October Mt. Lake Dike dam
October Mt. Lake Dike
October Mt. Lake Dike, located in Berkshire, Massachusetts, was completed in 1985 with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. This earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and has a hydraulic height of 16 feet, providing a storage capacity of 1460 acre-feet. The dam also serves purposes such as fish and wildlife pond creation and recreational activities, covering a surface area of 83 acres.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the dam is regulated and inspected by the state authorities to ensure its safety and functionality. With a high hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the October Mt. Lake Dike poses a significant risk in case of failure, warranting the need for regular inspections and emergency preparedness. Despite the potential risks, the dam continues to serve its intended purpose of reducing flood risks in the area.
Although lacking a spillway, the October Mt. Lake Dike remains a crucial structure in the management of water resources in the region, protecting the surrounding areas from potential flooding events. With a high risk assessment and frequent inspections, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of proactive maintenance and management of water infrastructure for the safety and well-being of the community and the environment.
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 October Mt. Lake Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Branch Housatonic River At Coltsville | 40 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River Near Great Barrington | 249 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Great Barrington | 21 cfs | → |
| West Branch Westfield River At Huntington | 61 cfs | → |
| Westfield River At Knightville | 149 cfs | → |
| Middle B Westfield River At Goss Heights | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near October Mt. Lake Dike.
Boat launches
- Laurel Street 515, Lee
- New Lenox Road 350, Lenox
- Highway 8 2301-2357, Becket
- Beech Road, Richmond
- Lakeway Drive 309-399, Pittsfield
- Hancock Road 48-94, Pittsfield
Campgrounds
- October Mountain State Forest
- Rocky Point
- Green Point
- Shaker Camp
- Beartown State Forest
- Crystal Mountain Campsite (& Privy)
Paddle runs
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
Track October Mt. Lake 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 October Mt. Lake Dike
Where does the data for October Mt. Lake 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 October Mt. Lake Dike.