Curran Upper Reservoir

About Curran Upper Reservoir

The primary purpose of Curran Upper Reservoir 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 Parks & Recreation (state). It impounds the Clarke Brook near Cranston.

The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 32 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1902, 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.

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