Cookson Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1959. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 550 ft long, taller than 55% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Cookson Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Cookson Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Haymeadow Pond Farm LLC (private). It impounds the Tributary of Whiting River near New Marlborough.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 550 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 67 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1959, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 05/13/2020.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Berkshire |
| Nearest City | New Marlborough |
| River/Stream | Tributary of Whiting River |
| Coordinates | 42.05166, -73.22381 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 550 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 550 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 67 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 83 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Haymeadow Pond Farm LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/13/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00254 |
| Federal ID | MA00254 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |