Lake Washington
Lake Washington is a gravity dam located in Providence County, Rhode Island, built in 1930. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Washington
The primary purpose of Lake Washington is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Washington Neighborhood Association (private). It impounds the Mary Brown Brook near Glocester.
The dam stands 6 feet tall and stretches 30 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 41 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 85 acre-feet. Completed in 1930, 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 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 | 41.91394, -71.75922 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 6 ft |
| Dam Height | 6 ft |
| Dam Length | 30 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 75 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 41 acres |
| Max Discharge | 17 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | LAKE WASHINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | RI01311 |
| Federal ID | RI01311 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |