Plantain Pond Dam
Plantain Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1947. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Plantain Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Plantain Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by The Nature Conservancy Of Massachusetts, Inc. (private). It impounds the Bear Rock Stream near Mount Washington.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 240 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 62 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1947, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/29/2022.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Berkshire |
| Nearest City | Mount Washington |
| River/Stream | Bear Rock Stream |
| Coordinates | 42.06675, -73.43893 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 240 ft |
| Year Completed | 1947 (79 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 62 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 332 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | The Nature Conservancy of Massachusetts, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/29/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00252 |
| Federal ID | MA00252 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |