Mount Williams Reservoir Dam & Dike
Mount Williams Reservoir Dam & Dike is an earth dam located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1914. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Mount Williams Reservoir Dam & Dike
The primary purpose of Mount Williams Reservoir Dam & Dike is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of North Adams (local government). It impounds the Paull Brook near N. Adams.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 49 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 879 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1914, 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 11/15/2023.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.
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 | N. Adams |
| River/Stream | Paull Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.68654, -73.15726 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1914 (112 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 879 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 879 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 668 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 49 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 850 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of North Adams |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/15/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00282 |
| Federal ID | MA00282 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |