Rising Paper Company Dam
Rising Paper Company Dam is an earth dam located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Rising Paper Company Dam
Rising Paper Company Dam is a dam in Berkshire, Massachusetts. The dam is owned by General Electric Company (private). It impounds the Housatonic River near Great Barrington.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 670 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 44 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 710 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 279 square miles.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/15/2023.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Berkshire |
| Nearest City | Great Barrington |
| River/Stream | Housatonic River |
| Coordinates | 42.24236, -73.35774 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 670 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 710 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 710 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 195 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 44 acres |
| Drainage Area | 279 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 17,093 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | General Electric Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/15/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00250 |
| Federal ID | MA00250 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |