Stillwater Reservoir

About Stillwater Reservoir

The primary purpose of Stillwater Reservoir is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Ri Dem Fish & Wildlife (state). It impounds the Woonasquatucket River near Smithfield.

The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 670 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 240 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 26 square miles. Completed in 1918, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam.

At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.

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.

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