Bear Hole Reservoir Dam
Bear Hole Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Hampden County, Massachusetts, built in 1957. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bear Hole Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Bear Hole Reservoir 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 West Springfield (local government). It impounds the Paucatuck Brook near W. Springfield.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 270 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1957, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 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 07/29/2021.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Hampden |
| Nearest City | W. Springfield |
| River/Stream | Paucatuck Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.12592, -72.68289 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 270 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 450 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,425 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of West Springfield |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/29/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00073 |
| Federal ID | MA00073 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |