Butterfly Pond
Butterfly Pond is an earth dam located in Providence County, Rhode Island, built in 1883. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Butterfly Pond
Butterfly Pond is a dam in Providence, Rhode Island. The dam is owned by Lincoln, Town Of (local government). It impounds the Moshassuck River near Lincoln.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 26 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1883, 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 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.
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 | Lincoln |
| River/Stream | Moshassuck River |
| Coordinates | 41.90711, -71.43216 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1883 (143 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 26 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 26 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 855 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | LINCOLN, TOWN OF |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | RI04235 |
| Federal ID | RI04235 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |