Wood River Junction
Wood River Junction is an earth dam located in Washington County, Rhode Island, built in 1860. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Wood River Junction
The primary purpose of Wood River Junction is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ri Dot (state). It impounds the Meadow Brook near Richmond.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 520 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 60 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1860, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks.
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Location
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Washington |
| Nearest City | Richmond |
| River/Stream | Meadow Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.43787, -71.69109 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 520 ft |
| Year Completed | 1860 (166 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 36 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 480 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | RI DOT |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | RI02902 |
| Federal ID | RI02902 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |