Gainer Memorial
Gainer Memorial is an earth dam located in Providence County, Rhode Island, built in 1926. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Gainer Memorial
The primary purpose of Gainer Memorial 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 Providence Water Supply Board/city Of Providence (local government). It impounds the Pawtuxet River-north Branch near Scituate.
The dam stands 189 feet tall and stretches 3,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,390 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 164,850 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 93 square miles. Completed in 1926, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam.
At 189 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Scituate |
| River/Stream | Pawtuxet River-north Branch |
| Coordinates | 41.75327, -71.58486 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 189 ft |
| Dam Height | 109 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1926 (100 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 164,850 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 164,850 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 114,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,390 acres |
| Drainage Area | 93 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 53,520 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | PROVIDENCE WATER SUPPLY BOARD/CITY OF PROVIDENCE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | RI03001 |
| Federal ID | RI03001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |