Stockbridge Bowl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stockbridge Bowl |
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| Lake Mahkeenac | |
View southeast to Rattlesnake Hill from the public boat ramp
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 Stockbridge Bowl
Location in Massachusetts
Stockbridge Bowl
Location in the United States
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| Location | Stockbridge, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates | 42°20′13″N 73°19′05″W / 42.337°N 73.318°W |
| Lake type | great pond |
| Primary inflows | Lily Brook |
| Primary outflows | Larrywaug Brook |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 1.75 mi (2.82 km) |
| Max. width | 0.75 mi (1.21 km) |
| Surface area | 372 acres (151 ha) |
| Max. depth | 48 ft (15 m) |
| Shore length1 | 6 mi (9.7 km) (approx.) |
| Surface elevation | 930 ft (280 m) |
| Frozen | annually |
| Islands | one - ‘Kwuniikwat’ |
| Settlements | Stockbridge, Massachusetts |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Stockbridge Bowl, also known as Lake Mahkeenac, is a large lake in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It covers about 372 acres (1.5 square kilometers). This lake was created by people and is about 2.5 miles (4 km) north of Stockbridge village. On its north side, you can see Tanglewood, which is where the Boston Symphony Orchestra plays music in the summer.
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Exploring Stockbridge Bowl's Location
Stockbridge Bowl is surrounded by hills. The Taconic Mountains are to its west and north. The Berkshires are to its east. From the north, you can see a great view of the lake. You can also see the Housatonic River plain and Monument Mountain about seven miles to the south. The part of the Taconic Mountains next to the lake is called Yokun Ridge.
The lake is about 1.75 miles (2.8 km) long and 0.75 miles (1.2 km) wide. Its shoreline is about six miles (10 km) long. Water flows into the lake mainly from Lily Brook in the northeast. Water flows out from the southwest through Larrywaug Brook, which connects to the Housatonic River. The deepest part of the lake is 48 feet (15 meters) deep. A dam at the southwest corner helps keep the lake's water level.
Kwuniikwat Island is a three-acre island at the southwest end of the lake. The Stockbridge-Munsee tribe named the island in 2018.
Protecting the Lake's Environment
Stockbridge Bowl faces some environmental challenges. The lake has too many nutrients, which causes a problem called eutrophication. This happens when too much food for plants gets into the water. It's often caused by runoff from nearby homes and septic systems.
Invasive species are also harming the lake's ecosystem. One example is the Eurasian Water Milfoil, a plant that grows very fast. Native water lilies also grow thickly at the southwest end, making it hard to get to the lake's outlet. To help with these problems, people sometimes lower the lake's water level a little. They also remove weeds during the summer. So far, boat inspections have kept Zebra mussels out of the lake.
Fun Activities at Stockbridge Bowl
Stockbridge Bowl is the biggest lake in Stockbridge. It has a public boat ramp, so everyone can use it. Before launching any boat, it must be washed carefully. This helps stop the spread of Zebra Mussels.
People enjoy many activities on the lake all year. These include rowing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, swimming, and waterskiing. Powerboating is also popular, but Jet-skis are not allowed. In winter, from January to March, people often go ice-fishing if the lake freezes. The state adds trout to the lake twice a year. The lake also has many common fish found in still waters.
The Mahkeenak Boating Club is on the western side of the lake. It's an old club for sailing and social events. The Boston Symphony Orchestra owns a beach on the northern shore. Many orchestra members relax there when they are not performing. Stockbridge residents can use the Town Beach on the southeast side of the lake.
Josh Billings RunAground Race
Every September, a team triathlon event called the Josh Billings RunAground takes place. The middle part of the race involves canoeing and kayaking. Teams paddle around the lake one and three-quarters times. Up to 550 teams compete in this "Josh" race. The first part is a 28-mile bike race starting in Great Barrington. The last part is a six-mile run that begins at Camp Mah-Kee-Nac and finishes at the main gate of Tanglewood.
Homes Around the Lake
More than 450 private cottages are located along the lake's shoreline. Many large estates from the Gilded Age are also near the lake. Seranak Cottage, a 34-room house, is above the lake's north side. The Boston Symphony Orchestra owns it. This was once the summer home of Serge Koussevitzky. He was the music director of the orchestra and started the Tanglewood Music Center.
The Shadow Brook Farm Historic District was part of the Shadowbrook estate. Andrew Carnegie, a famous businessman, once owned this estate and died there. His former home is now the Kripalu Center. This center is a place for yoga, health, and wellness. Nearby Wheatleigh is another old Gilded Age estate that is now a resort.
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Stockbridge Bowl Association's Efforts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts owns Stockbridge Bowl because it is a "Great Pond." The Town of Stockbridge takes care of it. Since 1946, the Stockbridge Bowl Association (SBA) has helped protect and improve the lake's environment. The SBA has about 350 members who live near the lake. They work to promote safe use of the lake and keep its water quality good.
In 2012, the SBA got approval to install a long drain. This drain would allow the lake's water level to be lowered by 5.5 feet in the late fall. Lowering the water level has helped control invasive plants like Eurasian Water Milfoil in other lakes. The drain cost $1 million to build and install. The SBA worked with the Town to raise the money. However, later, it was found that a rare snail species in Stockbridge Bowl would be harmed by such a big drawdown. So, the approval for the large drawdown was withdrawn.
The SBA continues to raise money, along with help from the Town and State. This money will support other efforts to improve the lake. They plan to remove silt from the lake bottom and control water lilies. The SBA is also trying to get approval to use special herbicides. These chemicals can stop plants from growing too much without harming animals.
The SBA owns the island at the southwest corner of the lake. In 2018, they renamed it "Kwuniikwat." This name honors the Stockbridge-Muncie tribe of Mohicans. It also recognizes their history and their care for the land.
The Stockbridge Bowl Dam
The Stockbridge Bowl Dam is an earthen dam that is 340 feet (100 meters) long. It was finished in 1880 and is owned by the Town of Stockbridge. An inspection in 2008 found the dam to be in good condition.
