Forestdale Pond
Forestdale Pond is a dam located in Providence County, Rhode Island, built in 1883. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Forestdale Pond
Forestdale Pond is a dam in Providence, Rhode Island. It impounds the Branch River near North Smithfield.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 109 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 280 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 96 square miles. Completed in 1883, 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 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 | North Smithfield |
| River/Stream | Branch River |
| Coordinates | 41.99607, -71.56406 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 109 ft |
| Year Completed | 1883 (143 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 280 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 280 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Drainage Area | 96 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner Type | Not Listed |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | RI02504 |
| Federal ID | RI02504 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |