Easton Pond North is a rockfill dam located in Newport County, Rhode Island, built in 1891. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 14 ft14 ft tall and 2,783 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic rockfill embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Easton Pond North
The primary purpose of Easton Pond North is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Newport, City of (local government). It impounds the Bailey Brook near Middletown.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 2,783 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 110 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1891, 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. 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 | Newport |
| Nearest City | Middletown |
| River/Stream | Bailey Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.49386, -71.28889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,783 ft |
| Year Completed | 1891 (135 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 574 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 110 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 792 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Newport, City of |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | RI01903 |
| Federal ID | RI01903 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |