Columbia Mill Dam
Columbia Mill Dam is a rockfill dam located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1901. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Columbia Mill Dam
The primary purpose of Columbia Mill Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Lenox Development, Llc (private). It impounds the Housatonic River near Lee.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 116 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 0 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 184 square miles. Completed in 1901, the structure is over a century old.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/27/2017.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Berkshire |
| Nearest City | Lee |
| River/Stream | Housatonic River |
| Coordinates | 42.31758, -73.24750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 116 ft |
| Year Completed | 1901 (125 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 0 acres |
| Drainage Area | 184 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Lenox Development, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/27/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00260 |
| Federal ID | MA00260 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |