Tiogue Lake
Tiogue Lake is a masonry dam located in Kent County, Rhode Island, built in 1875. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Tiogue Lake
The primary purpose of Tiogue Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Coventry, Town Of (gate Owner) (local government). It impounds the Tiogue River near Coventry.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 1,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 267 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,468 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1875, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard 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.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Kent |
| Nearest City | Coventry |
| River/Stream | Tiogue River |
| Coordinates | 41.68480, -71.55079 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1875 (151 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,468 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,468 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,335 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 267 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 210 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | COVENTRY, TOWN OF (GATE OWNER) |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | RI00604 |
| Federal ID | RI00604 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |