Bear Swamp - East Dike dam
Bear Swamp - East Dike
Bear Swamp - East Dike, also known as Bear Swamp Upper Reservoir Dike, is a crucial water resource structure located in Charlemont, Massachusetts. Owned by a federal agency and regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, this dam plays a significant role in hydroelectric power generation. Completed in 1974, it stands at a height of 50 feet and has a storage capacity of 5100 acre-feet, serving as a key component in water management and energy production in the region.
Situated on the Deerfield River, Bear Swamp - East Dike is a rockfill dam spanning 789 feet with a surface area of 118 acres. While it currently operates without a spillway, its hazard potential is classified as high due to its age and condition assessment. With the dam inspected annually and emergency action plans in place, efforts are made to ensure the safety and functionality of this vital infrastructure, highlighting the critical role it plays in the local ecosystem and community resilience against climate impacts.
Managed by federal agencies and monitored for risk assessment, Bear Swamp - East Dike stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management, energy production, and climate adaptation. Its strategic location, design, and purpose underscore the importance of sustainable infrastructure development in the face of evolving environmental challenges. As enthusiasts in water resources and climate continue to study and advocate for resilient solutions, structures like Bear Swamp - East Dike serve as a focal point for innovation and collaboration towards a more sustainable future.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Bear Swamp - East Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deerfield River At Charlemont | 304 cfs | → |
| Hoosic River At Adams | 56 cfs | → |
| Hoosic River Near Williamstown | 159 cfs | → |
| North River At Shattuckville | 76 cfs | → |
| Green River At Williamstown | 62 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Colrain | 47 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Swamp - East Dike .
Boat launches
- Ashton Avenue North Adams
- Fairview Avenue 298, Wilmington
- South Stream Access Area Road Pownal
- Pine Ridge Drive 27, Pownal
- Lake Raponda Road Wilmington
- Somerset
Campgrounds
- Mohawk Trail State Forest
- Savoy Mountain State Forest
- Historic Valley
- Clarksburg State Park
- Windsor State Forest
- Sherman Brook Campsite
Track Bear Swamp - East Dike in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Bear Swamp - East Dike
Where does the data for Bear Swamp - East Dike come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Bear Swamp - East Dike .