Wilson Reservoir

About Wilson Reservoir

The primary purpose of Wilson Reservoir is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Wilson Reservoir Association (private). It impounds the Clear River near Burrillville.

The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 480 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 114 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 840 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1866, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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. 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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