Bleachery Pond

About Bleachery Pond

The primary purpose of Bleachery Pond is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Wall St Investments Llc (private). It impounds the Moshassuck River near Lincoln.

The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 30 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. 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.

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