The Bel Air Dam (MA1061) is located in the City of Pittsfield in Berkshire County and impounds Pontoosuc Brook, which is a tributary to the West Branch of the Housatonic River. The construction of the dam was contracted in 1832, and it was originally used for power generation for a woolen mill until the 1920s. In the 1940s the use of the mill for wool production was abandoned. Bel Air Dam is now located upstream of several businesses, residences, and thoroughfares. A failure of the dam at maximum pool may cause loss of life and substantial damage to downstream buildings, roadways, and other infrastructure. Therefore, in accordance with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (MassDCR) Dam Safety Regulations, Bel Air Dam is classified as a HIGH (Class I) Hazard Potential dam.
