Stockbridge Bowl Dam
Stockbridge Bowl Dam is an earth dam located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1880. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Stockbridge Bowl Dam
The primary purpose of Stockbridge Bowl Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Stockbridge (local government). It impounds the Housatonic River near Stockbridge.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 340 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 376 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 11,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1880, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. 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 06/04/2025.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Massachusetts dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Berkshire |
| Nearest City | Stockbridge |
| River/Stream | Housatonic River |
| Coordinates | 42.32032, -73.32927 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 340 ft |
| Year Completed | 1880 (146 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 11,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 11,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 376 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 470 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Stockbridge |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/04/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00022 |
| Federal ID | MA00022 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |