The Blackstone Watershed has over 300 dams, the most of any watershed in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
(REPLACE WITH DAM MAP)
1. Quinsigamond Pond Dam
ID: MA00139
Location: Worcester, MA
Owner: City of Worcester (Conservation Commission)
Hazard Level/Condition: High/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/Mill Pond Dam, Worcester Visitor Center
ID: None
Location: Worcester, MA
Owner: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and City of Worcester
Hazard Level /Condition: Nonregulated, significant hazard potential/poor condition
Other information: The dam impounds a shallow pond that has accumulated sediment and has partially transitioned into a wetland habitat. The site is integrated into the Blackstone River Greenway Visitor Center and is part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.
3. Millbury Electric Dam
ID: MA02828
Location: Millbury, MA
Owner: National Grid (Private)
Hazard Level /Condition: Low/Unsafe, Partially breached
Other information: The hydropower generation is no longer active.
4. Pleasant Falls/Singing Dam
ID: MA02890
Location: Sutton, MA
Owner: Blackstone River Corporation, Trustee (Private)
Hazard Level /Condition: Significant/Satisfactory (12/29/21)
Other information: Its nickname comes from the tonal vibrations produced as water passes over the spillway. The dam maintains the impoundment that supports limited passive recreation. However, the impoundment contains legacy sediments with elevation concentrations of nutrients, bacteria, and heavy metals. The water quality fails to meet Mass Class B standards, which does not support aquatic habitat or contact recreation. *Improved portage
5. Wilkinsonville Dam
ID: None
Location: Sutton, MA
Owner: Indusol Inc. Polyvinyl Films (Stretch Tite)
Hazard Level /Condition: 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” - Last Known Owner - Dissolved - Cacao Inc. (Private)
Hazard Level /Condition: Significant/Poor (3/19/24), 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 /Condition: High/Poor (2/23/22)
Other information:
8. Farnumsville Dam
ID: MA00942 / FERC No.: P-9100/License
Location:
Owner: James M. Knott (Private)
Hazard Level /Condition: Low/Satisfactory (4/11/23)
Other information:
10. Rice City Pond Dam
ID: MA00935
Location: Uxbridge, MA
Owner: MA Dept. of Conservation & Recreation (State)
Hazard Level /Condition: High/Fair (7/19/23)
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
Location: Uxbridge, MA
Owner:
Hazard Level /Condition: Nonregulated
Other information: 2’ concrete sill remnant of dam structure, possibly Stanley Woolen Mill Dam or West Hill Dam?
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)
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. The dam produces approximately 4,500 – 4,600 megawatt-hours annually, with electricity delivered to the regional grid.
13. Blackstone Dam
ID: MA01164 / State ID: 393 (RI)
Location: Blackstone, MA
Owner: USACE - Town of Blackstone (Local Government)
Hazard Level /Condition: Low/Fair (9/29/15)
Other information: Hydroelectric, 2,600,000 kwh per year
14. Thundermist Dam
ID: RI03902 /State ID: 056 /FERC No.: P-2972/Licence (issued 11/1/80, expiration 10/27/20)
Location: Woonsocket, RI
Owner: USACE - New England District (Federal)
Hazard Level /Condition: Low/RIDEM 2024 says significant
Other information: Hydroelectric, 4,027,000-4,584,000 kwh per year, a central component to the Woonsocket Flood Risk Management Program.
15. Manville Dam
ID: RI00809/State ID: 059/FERC No.: 15370-000
Location: Cumberland/Lincoln, RI
Owner: Town of Cumberland (Local Government)
Hazard Level /Condition: Low/Poor (10/3/17)
Other information: Hydroelectric estimated 3,952,000 kwh annually
16. Albion Dam
ID: RI00808/State ID: 060/FERC No.: 14633-001
Location: Cumberland/Lincoln, RI
Owner: Albion Hydro, LLC (Private)
Hazard Level /Condition: Low/Poor (10/3/17)
Other information: Hydroelectric, 2,034,000 kwh per year
ID: MA00576
Location: Grafton, MA
Owner: Deborah Lippman - owner, Robert Heavey - manager (Private)
Hazard Level /Condition: Nonregulated/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 /Condition: Low/Poor (10/3/17)
Other information: The dam is owned by New England Hydropower Company, who is proposing a run-of-river spillway hydropower facility. As of January 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: 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 which restrict flow during floods create extremely hazardous conditions for paddlers. Debris accumulation is an ongoing safety concern.
19. Valley Falls Dam
ID: RI00401/State ID: 063 (or 064) FERC No.: P-3036
Location: Cumberland/Central Falls, RI
Owner:Blackstone Hydro Associates, previously Gelardin/Bruner/Cott, Inc. (Private)
Hazard Level /Condition: Low/Satisfactory (4/11/23)
Other information: Hydroelectric, 4,761,000 kwh per year. Impoundment includes the Valley Falls Pond and Valley Falls Marsh, which is the largest freshwater marsh in Rhode Island. Restoring fish passage would reconnect the river 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 /Condition: Low’Poor (5/4/18)
Other information: There are plans to restore fish passage by transitioning the old channels or raceways into a naturalized fishway.
21. Slater Mill Dam
ID: RI04270/State ID: 065
Location: Pawtucket, RI
Owner: Narragansett Electric Co. (Private)
Hazard Level /Condition: Low/Poor (5/4/18)
Other information:
22. Main St. Dam
ID: RI04271
Location: Pawtucket, RI
Owner: Relevate Power LLC
Hazard Level & Condition: Significant, Satisfactory Condition, Breached
Other information: Active hydropower, permitted for up to 1,675 kW annually.