Lake Wyola
Encyclopedia
Lake Wyola is a lake
located in Shutesbury
, Massachusetts
, United States.
on the Sawmill River, then the site of numerous mills
. Lake Wyola Dam is of earthen construction. The dam is a 232 feet (70.7 m) long, 14 feet (4.3 m) high masonry embankment dam
with a concrete spillway
. Its capacity is 833 acre.ft. Normal storage is 830 acre.ft(1.02M m³). It drains an area of 6.4 square miles (16.6 km²).
In 1998 the dam was classified as a high-hazard dam by state officials. They said that there was a potential for a large loss of property and life downstream, in the towns of Leverett
and Montague
, if the dam should fail. In 2005 during heavy storms, there was great concern for its stability as the area directly below the dam severely flooded.
In July 2008, despite the evident and urgent need for repair or replacement the Massachusetts Governor denied funding for the dam's repair. Many local residents, particularly in Leverett and Montague, were frustrated with the Governor's decision. However, with so many dams in Massachusetts in need of repair, others question if the state should be spending millions to rehab old dams.
Despite the gubernatorial veto, funding was eventually obtained and construction began at the dam in the fall of 2008. The repairs were completed in May 2009.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
located in Shutesbury
Shutesbury, Massachusetts
Shutesbury is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,810 as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United States.
The Dam
Construction was completed on a dam in 1883 that increased the size of the lake from 65 acre (0.2630459 km²) to 130 acre (0.5260918 km²), doubling the size of the lake. The dam was originally installed to help provide hydropowerHydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
on the Sawmill River, then the site of numerous mills
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
. Lake Wyola Dam is of earthen construction. The dam is a 232 feet (70.7 m) long, 14 feet (4.3 m) high masonry embankment dam
Embankment dam
An embankment dam is a massive artificial water barrier. It is typically created by the emplacement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay and/or rock. It has a semi-permanent waterproof natural covering for its surface, and a dense, waterproof...
with a concrete spillway
Spillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
. Its capacity is 833 acre.ft. Normal storage is 830 acre.ft(1.02M m³). It drains an area of 6.4 square miles (16.6 km²).
In 1998 the dam was classified as a high-hazard dam by state officials. They said that there was a potential for a large loss of property and life downstream, in the towns of Leverett
Leverett, Massachusetts
Leverett is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,663 as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
and Montague
Montague, Massachusetts
Montague is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,489 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan statistical area....
, if the dam should fail. In 2005 during heavy storms, there was great concern for its stability as the area directly below the dam severely flooded.
In July 2008, despite the evident and urgent need for repair or replacement the Massachusetts Governor denied funding for the dam's repair. Many local residents, particularly in Leverett and Montague, were frustrated with the Governor's decision. However, with so many dams in Massachusetts in need of repair, others question if the state should be spending millions to rehab old dams.
Despite the gubernatorial veto, funding was eventually obtained and construction began at the dam in the fall of 2008. The repairs were completed in May 2009.