October Mountain Lake Dike
October Mountain Lake Dike is an earth dam located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1985. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About October Mountain Lake Dike
The primary purpose of October Mountain Lake Dike is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Ma Department Of Conservation & Recreation (state). It impounds the Tributary Of Washington Mountain Brook near Washington.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 820 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 83 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,460 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1985, the structure is 41 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 05/06/2024.
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 | Tributary Of Washington Mountain Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.34419, -73.17937 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 820 ft |
| Year Completed | 1985 (41 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,460 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,460 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 870 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 83 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | MA Department of Conservation & Recreation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/06/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA03281 |
| Federal ID | MA02561S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |