Burlingame Reservoir Upper

About Burlingame Reservoir Upper

The primary purpose of Burlingame Reservoir Upper is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Ri Dem Forestry (state). It impounds the Brandy Brook near Glocester.

The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 355 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 69 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 340 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1885, the structure is over a century 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 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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