Horseshoe is an earth dam located in Providence County, Rhode Island, built in 1920. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 12 ft12 ft tall and 240 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Horseshoe
The primary purpose of Horseshoe 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 Providence Water Supply Board/city of Providence (local government). It impounds the Pawtuxet River-north Branch near Scituate.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 240 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 242 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,935 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 22 square miles. Completed in 1920, 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 | Scituate |
| River/Stream | Pawtuxet River-north Branch |
| Coordinates | 41.83302, -71.59353 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 240 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,935 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,935 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,314 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 242 acres |
| Drainage Area | 22 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Providence Water Supply Board/city of Providence |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | RI03004 |
| Federal ID | RI03004 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |