The Blackstone Watershed has over 300 dams, the most of any watershed in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
Non-jurisdictional dams aren’t regulated they’re often not in the natl inventory of dams, don’t have fed ID#s each state assigns ID#s to dams but some non-jurisdictional dams/unregulated have no #s and are not required to have inspections for condition or assigned hazard levels. Some dams have an NID# but are no longer jurisdictional because they were breached.
Different IDs: NID is federal, state is dependent. MA uses federal, RI unique
(REPLACE WITH DAM MAP)
1. Quinsigamond Pond Dam
ID: MA00139
Location: Worcester, MA
(42.236216°, -71.79687°)
Owner: City of Worcester (Conservation Commission)
Hazard Level: High
Condition: Poor
Other information: Does not appear to currently serve any active operation or economic function, though it does impound water for limited passive recreational use.
2. Quinsigamond Pond Dam 2 aka Worcester Visitor Center Dam
ID: None (Non-jurisdictional)
Location: Worcester, MA
(42°23’69.79”N 71°79’60.64”W)
Owner: Unknown (potentially Mass DCR)
Hazard Level: Unrated
Condition: Unrated; seemingly poor condition
Other information: This dam can easily be seen from DCR’s Blackstone Visitor Center balcony and may be part of DCR’s property.
3. Millbury Electric Dam
ID: MA02828
Location: Millbury, MA
Owner: National Grid (Private)
Hazard Level: Low
Condition: Unsafe, Partially breached
Hydropower: Inctive
FERC: none
Authorized capacity: none
Other information: The hydropower generation has not been active for decades and National Grid has pursued dam removal in the past (2007).
4. Pleasant Falls/Singing Dam
ID: MA02890
Location: Sutton, MA
Owner: Blackstone River Corporation, Trustee (Private)
Hazard Level: Significant
Condition: Satisfactory
Other information: Its nickname comes from the tonal vibrations produced as water passes over the spillway. This dam has an intentional, simple portage immediately upstream and downstream of the dam - one of the best on the whole river.
5. Wilkinsonville Dam
ID: None (Non-jurisdictional)
Location: Sutton, MA
Owner: Indusol Inc. Polyvinyl Films (Stretch Tite)
Hazard Level /Condition: Unrated. Breached, deteriorated and unsafe
Other information: There is no known record of assessment, emergency action plan, or hazard classification for this site.
6. Saundersville Dam
ID: MA00578
Location: Grafton, MA
Owner: Officially “abandoned” per MA Office of Dam Safety - Last Known Owner (Cacao Inc) dissolved
Hazard Level: Significant
Condition: Poor, breached
Other information: The breach presents a significant navigation hazard for paddlers.
7. Fisherville Pond Dam
ID: MA00577
Location: Grafton, MA
Owner: Fisherville Redevelopment Company, LLC (Private)
Hazard Level: High
Condition: Poor
Other information: The town of Grafton recently received funds to repair this dam, including modifying the dam height, which may include construction of a portage around the dam. Currently, the portage on river right is highly eroded and steep.
8. Farnumsville Dam
ID: MA00942 / FERC No.: P-9100
Location: Grafton, MA
Owner: James M. Knott (Private)
Hazard Level: Low
Condition: Satisfactory
Hydropower: Active
FERC: P-9100
Authorized capacity: 150kW annually
Other information: This is an active hydropower dam and is the only dam on the river that generates direct power for the wire factory alongside it, instead of selling power to the grid.
10. Rice City Pond Dam
ID: MA00935
Location: Uxbridge, MA
Owner: MA Dept. of Conservation & Recreation (State)
Hazard Level: High
Condition: Fair
Other information: The dam remains intact and operational, impounding the Rice City Pond and shaping the surrounding heritage landscape. The site is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and includes restored canal infrastructure, hiking trails, and the River Bend Farm Visitor Center. Public access is provided at the dam, with steps leading to the river below and designated put-in access for paddling into Rice City Pond.
11. Route 16 Dam
ID: None (Non-jurisdictional)
Location: Uxbridge, MA
Owner: Unknown
Hazard Level: Unrated
Condition: Breached
Other information: This small dam is only sometimes visible depending on water conditions, yet can still present a hazard to recreational paddlers.
12. Rolling Dam
ID: MA00096 / FERC No.: P-3023/License
Location: Blackstone, MA
Owner: Blackstone Hydro Inc. (Private)
Hazard Level /Condition: Low/Satisfactory (4/11/23)
Hydropower: Active
FERC: P-3023
Authorized capacity: 1724kW annually
Other information: Also known as the Roaring Dam, Rolling Dam diverts water from the Blackstone River into a canal that conveys flow to the Tupperware Hydroelectric facility, and is then returned downstream.
13. Blackstone Dam
ID: MA01164 / State ID: 393 (RI)
Location: Blackstone, MA
Owner: USACE - Town of Blackstone (Local Government)
Hazard Level: Low
Condition: Fair
Hydropower: Active
FERC:
Authorized capacity: unkown
Other information: This is an active hydropower dam generating electricity to the grid.
14. Thundermist Dam
IDs: NID: RI03902
State: 056
FERC: P-2972
Location: Woonsocket, RI
41°59’57.96”N 71°31’4.76”W
Owner: USACE - New England District (Federal)
Hazard Level: Low/RIDEM 2024 says significant
Condition:
Hydropower: Active
FERC: P-2972
Authorized capacity: 1,200kW annually
Other information: This hydroelectric dam is allowed to produce up to 1,200kW per year and is a central component to the Woonsocket Flood Risk Management Program created by the US Army Corp of Engineers in _____Year
15. Manville Dam
ID: RI00809/State ID: 059/FERC No.: 15370-000
Location: Cumberland/Lincoln, RI
Owner: Town of Cumberland (Local Government)
Hazard Level: Low
Condition: Poor
Other information: Hydroelectric estimated 3,952,000 kwh annually
16. Albion Dam
ID: RI00808/State ID: 060/FERC No.: P-14633
Location: Cumberland/Lincoln, RI
Owner: Albion Hydro, LLC (Private)
Hazard Level: Low
Condition: Poor
Other information: Hydroelectric, authorized capacity up to 520kW annually (technically exemption not licensed)
ID: MA00576 ←why does it have an ID but is non jurisdictional? Due to breach?
Location: Grafton, MA
Owner: Deborah Lippman (Private)
Hazard Level: Unrated
Condition: Poor, breached
Other information: Impoundment has mostly drained, leaving accumulated sediment exposed. Despite partial failure, remnants continue to obstruct river connectivity
9. Riverdale Dam
17. Ashton Dam
ID:RI01705/State ID: 061/FERC No.: P-14634
Location: Cumberland/Lincoln, RI
Owner: Ashton Hydro, LLC (Private)
Hazard Level: Low
Condition: Poor
Other information: The dam is owned by New England Hydropower Company, who is proposing a run-of-river spillway hydropower facility. As of 2026, the project is not yet operational.
better photo
18. Pratt Dam
ID: RI01705/State ID: 062
Location: Cumberland/Lincoln, RI
Owner: Town of Cumberland (Local Government)
Hazard Level /Condition: Low/Poor (5/4/18)
Other information: This dam impounds water to form Lonsdale Marsh, the largest freshwater marsh in Rhode Island. Spillway arches are open to river flow so there is unimpeded connectivity for fish passage, but the narrow arches restrict flow during floods and create extremely hazardous conditions for paddlers - DO NOT try to paddle through this dam, despite the openings — debris accumulation is an ongoing safety concern that have led to fatal accidents.
19. Valley Falls Dam
ID: State: RI00401 NID: FERC: P-3063
Location: Cumberland/Central Falls, RI
Owner:Blackstone Hydro Associates (Private)
Hazard Level: Low
Condition: Satisfactory
Hydropower: Active
FERC: P-3063
Authorized capacity: 1,200kW annually
Other information: Impoundment includes the Valley Falls Pond and Valley Falls Marsh, which is the largest freshwater marsh in Rhode Island. This dam is the top of the “lowest four” that advocates are working to create fish passage around in order to reconnect migratory species such as herring from the ocean to this historic spawning habitat.
20. Elizabeth Webbing Mill Dam
ID: RI04270/State ID: 065
Location: Pawtucket, RI
Owner: State of RI Dept. Environmental Management
Hazard Level: Low
Condition: Poor
Other information: This dam is currently being explored by RIDEM and the Fish Passage Community Advisory Council to determine the best way to allow fish to go around or over the dam. Currently, the preferred alternative being explored is full removal and creation of a nature-like fishway within the river channel, which would allow both fish and paddlers to safely pass through.
21. Slater Mill Dam
ID: RI04270/State ID: 065
Location: Pawtucket, RI
Owner: Old Slater Mill Association (Private)
Hazard Level: Low
Condition: Poor
Other information: This dam powered the first successful cotton-spinning mill in the United States, kicking off the American Industrial Revolution. It is a central part of the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park..
22. Main St. Dam
ID: State: RI04271 NID: (need) FERC: P-3689
Location: Pawtucket, RI
Owner: Relevate Power LLC
Hazard Level & Condition: Significant, Satisfactory Condition, Breached
Other information: Active hydropower, permitted for up to 1,675kW annually.