Pawtucket Reservoir
Pawtucket Reservoir is an earth dam located in Providence County, Rhode Island, built in 1928. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Pawtucket Reservoir
The primary purpose of Pawtucket 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 Abbott Run near Cumberland.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 2,900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 255 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 18 square miles. Completed in 1928, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 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 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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 | Abbott Run |
| Coordinates | 41.98138, -71.39056 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,125 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 255 acres |
| Drainage Area | 18 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,700 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 | RI00803 |
| Federal ID | RI00803 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |