Miscoe Lake
Miscoe Lake is a rockfill dam located in Providence County, Rhode Island, built in 1937. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Miscoe Lake
Miscoe Lake is a dam in Providence, Rhode Island. The dam is owned by Cook, Jeffrey W. (private). It impounds the Miscoe Brook near Cumberland.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 75 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 49 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 244 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1937, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard 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 | Cumberland |
| River/Stream | Miscoe Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.00765, -71.41711 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 75 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 244 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 244 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 226 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 49 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 70 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | COOK, JEFFREY W. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | RI00801 |
| Federal ID | RI00801 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |