Wilbur Pond

About Wilbur Pond

The primary purpose of Wilbur Pond is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Tillinghast Holding Co. Llc (private). It impounds the Mary Brown Brook near Glocester.

The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 24 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1854, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.

This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam.

Living Downstream

If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Rhode Island dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.

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