Ashley Lake Reservoir Dam
Ashley Lake Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1901. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Ashley Lake Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Ashley Lake Reservoir Dam 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 Pittsfield (local government). It impounds the Ashley Brook near Washington.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 106 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,506 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1901, 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 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 10/19/2022.
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 | Washington |
| River/Stream | Ashley Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.38815, -73.16510 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1901 (125 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,506 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,506 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 106 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 224 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Pittsfield |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/19/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00313 |
| Federal ID | MA00313 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |