Fernwood Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 13 ft13 ft tall and 360 ft long. 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 Fernwood Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Fernwood Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Camp Emerson Real Estate Co., LLC (private). It impounds the Welch Brook (tributary to Housatonic River) near Hinsdale.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 360 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 20 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles.
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 05/03/2021.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Berkshire |
| Nearest City | Hinsdale |
| River/Stream | Welch Brook (tributary to Housatonic River) |
| Coordinates | 42.43361, -73.13743 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 360 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 18 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 160 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Camp Emerson Real Estate Co., LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/03/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01908 |
| Federal ID | MA01908 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |