Hawkins Pond
Hawkins Pond is a gravity dam located in Providence County, Rhode Island, built in 1865. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Hawkins Pond
The primary purpose of Hawkins Pond is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Glocester Land Trust (local government). It impounds the Mary Brown Brook near Glocester.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 530 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 125 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1865, 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. 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 | Glocester |
| River/Stream | Mary Brown Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.91821, -71.79482 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 6 ft |
| Dam Length | 530 ft |
| Year Completed | 1865 (161 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 125 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 125 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 63 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 240 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | GLOCESTER LAND TRUST |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | RI01310 |
| Federal ID | RI01310 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |