Goose Pond, 1938

Goose Pond, 1938

About Us

Goose Pond is a former mill pond, called Lake May, which supplied water for downstream Forest Street paper mills.  Most recently, the Lake May Power Company owned the dam, pipes, a mill on Forest Street, and a power station near East Lee.  At one time, they intended to use the pond water to create hydroelectricity; when that plan did not come to fruition, they considered abandoning and removing the dam.  The pond residents formed the Save Goose Pond Association and stepped forward to protect their lake.

The District was created by the Massachusetts legislature in 1994.  Unlike many lake associations, we are a municipal overlay district, with the power to fund activities through taxation.  Similar to towns with Select Boards, we have a Prudential Committee to represent the district members.  The District is authorized by the legislature to study, plan, and implement projects for lake enhancement, maintenance, and preservation.

PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE:

Joe Janis, Chair (term up 2026)
Toni Thomas (term up 2025)
Tim Puntin (term up 2027) 
John Philpott (Lee appointee)
Bill DeSantis, Jr. (Tyringham appointee)

Treasurer / Clerk: Janet Willey, who pays the bills and handles day-to-day paperwork.

Dam Monitor: Bill DeSantis backed up by Peter Beckwith, is charged with monitoring the lake water levels and adjusting the discharge gate valve.  This includes managing the annual water drawdown.

District Manager: Sarah Gale, who coordinates the mandatory dam inspections, emergency planning, and various other District initiatives.  The Manager also coordinates wetland permit extensions for the drawdown and weed control activities.

Requests for information: Contact the District in writing at

Goose Pond Maintenance District
P.O.Box 519
Lee, MA 01238

Comments / Questions: Contact the district manager at

(413) 358-0623 cell
or goosepondmanager@gmail.com

Lake Facts:

  • Pond area is 329 acres (both Upper and Lower Goose Ponds)

  • Drainage area is 4.2 square miles in Becket, Lee, and Tyringham

  • Maximum storage capacity is 5,400 acre-feet of water

  • Shoreline length is 28,500 feet

  • Maximum depth is 48 feet

  • Dam is 287 feet long at the crest and 27 feet high at the outlet.