Laurel Lake Dam
Laurel Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Laurel Lake Dam
Laurel Lake Dam is a dam in Berkshire, Massachusetts. The dam is owned by Laurel Lake Water Power, Llc (private). It impounds the Sargeant Brook near Lee.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 390 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 170 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,557 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles.
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 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 06/28/2023.
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 | Lee |
| River/Stream | Sargeant Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.32102, -73.26106 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 390 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,557 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,557 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 977 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 170 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 640 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Laurel Lake Water Power, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/28/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00263 |
| Federal ID | MA00263 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |