Diamond Hill Reservoir
Diamond Hill Reservoir is an earth dam located in Providence County, Rhode Island, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Diamond Hill Reservoir
The primary purpose of Diamond Hill Reservoir is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Pawtucket Water Supply Board (local government). It impounds the Burnt Swamp Brook near Cumberland.
The dam stands 80 feet tall and stretches 2,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 390 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 15,680 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1971, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam.
At 80 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Providence |
| Nearest City | Cumberland |
| River/Stream | Burnt Swamp Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.98959, -71.39689 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Height | 76 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 15,680 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15,680 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 11,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 390 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,100 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | RI00802 |
| Federal ID | RI00802 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |