Lower Spectacle Pond
Berkshire County, Massachusetts70 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)
- #8 of 8 in the county
- Limited data
Lower Spectacle Pond in Berkshire County, Massachusetts has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.7 µg/L. Surface area: 70 acres.
- Area
- 70 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Chlorophyll-a
- 12.7 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Stays near Lower Spectacle Pond
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Spectacle Pond in Berkshire County, Massachusetts — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Lower Spectacle Pond are listed below.
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Watch Lower Spectacle Pond’s letter
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Lower Spectacle Pond is a 70-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2016. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Berkshire County, Lower Spectacle Pond ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, MassDEP, last sampled 2016-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lower Spectacle Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a 12.7 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 70 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lower Spectacle Pond, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lower Spectacle Pond
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +3.6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lower Spectacle Pond is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lower Spectacle Pond Dam, built primarily for recreation on the Tributary to Clam River; earth-type dam, 11 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 70 ac
- Normal storage
- 280 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 928 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.4 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- MA Department of Conservation and Recreation
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MA00290 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lower Spectacle Pond is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MA31044 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.18 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 8 lakes in Berkshire County
Nearby Lakes in Berkshire County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Spectacle Pond
Where is Lower Spectacle Pond?
- Lower Spectacle Pond is a lake in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lower Spectacle Pond?
- Lower Spectacle Pond in Berkshire County, Massachusetts has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.7 µg/L. Surface area: 70 acres.
Is Lower Spectacle Pond safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lower Spectacle Pond is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Lower Spectacle Pond across LakeQuality
9.3 mi away · 50 ft
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Massachusetts's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
MASSDEP3 samples · 2016
Analytical methods
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database