Indian Lake Dam
Indian Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1975. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Indian Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Indian Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Indian Lake Association Inc. (private). It impounds the Spark Brook near Becket.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 460 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 67 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 621 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1975, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 10/12/2023.
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 | Becket |
| River/Stream | Spark Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.24936, -73.03987 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 460 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 621 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 621 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 370 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 67 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 775 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Indian Lake Association Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/12/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01051 |
| Federal ID | MA01051 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |