Cunliff Pond is a gravity dam located in Providence County, Rhode Island, built in 1885. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 12 ft12 ft tall and 20 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Cunliff Pond
The primary purpose of Cunliff Pond is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Providence, City of (local government). It impounds the Mashapaug Brook near Providence.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 20 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 35 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 168 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1885, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam.
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Location
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Providence |
| Nearest City | Providence |
| River/Stream | Mashapaug Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.77379, -71.41258 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 20 ft |
| Year Completed | 1885 (141 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 168 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 168 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 80 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Providence, City of |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | RI02802 |
| Federal ID | RI02802 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |