East Brimfield Dam
Encyclopedia
The East Brimfield Dam is located on the Quinebaug River
in Sturbridge, Massachusetts
, approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) southwest of Worcester, Massachusetts
.
Designed and constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
, this dam substantially reduces flooding along the Quinebaug
and Thames
rivers. Construction of the project began in 1958 with completion in 1960 at a cost of US$7,020,000.
The East Brimfield reservoir is located within the Quinebaug River Watershed and is part of the Thames River Basin. Access to the site is available from US Route 20.
, Brimfield
, and Holland
, Massachusetts. The entire project, including all associated lands, covers 2070 acres (8.4 km²). The East Brimfield Dam can store up to 29900 acre.ft of water, equivalent to 9.7 billion (thousand million) gallons, for flood control purposes. This is equivalent to 8.3 inches (210.8 mm) of water runoff from its drainage area of 67.5 square miles (174.8 km²).
Streeter Point Recreation Area is located on US Route 20 in the town of Sturbridge. It offers a freshwater swimming beach and picnic area. It is open daily in season (Memorial Day-Labor Day) from 9am-6pm. This recreation area is operated by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
. There is a $5 per vehicle entrance fee.
East Brimfield Damsite is located on Riverview Avenue in the town of Sturbridge. Here, visitors can walk along the top of the dam, or walk the 3/4 mile self-guided nature trail. Open year-round, sunrise to sunset. No entrance fee.
Quinebaug River Canoe trail is a 5 miles (8 km) flatwater canoe route along the Quinebaug River from the outlet of Lake Siog to East Brimfield Reservoir. The upstream-end canoe launching point is on Pond Bridge Road in the town of Holland. The downstream-end launching point is at the East Brimfield Reservoir boat ramp on US Route 20 in the town of Brimfield. Three "rest stops" are located along the way with benches for a quick rest. Ovrnight camping is prohibited. This is a designated National Recreational Trail and Watchable wildlife Area. No fee for use.
Champeaux Road Fishing Area is a handicapped accessible fishing area near the northern end of the reservoir, along Champeaux Road in the town of Sturbridge. Facilities include a parking area, and two accessible fishing platforms on the shoreline of Long Pond. No fee for use.
Reservoir Boat Ramp is located on the south side of US Route 20 in the town of Brimfield. Paved area with information kiosk. Closed in winter. No fee.
Holland Pond Boat Launch is located on Pond Bridge Road in the town of Holland. Unpaved area with information kisok. Recommended for car-top launching only. No fee.
Quinebaug River
The Quinebaug River is a river in south-central Massachusetts and eastern Connecticut, with watershed extending into western Rhode Island. The name "Quinebaug" comes from the southern New England Native American term, spelled variously Qunnubbâgge, Quinibauge, etc., meaning "long pond", from...
in Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Sturbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is home to Old Sturbridge Village living history museum and other sites of historical interest such as Tantiusques.The population was 9,268 at the 2010 census...
, approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) southwest of Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
.
Designed and constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
, this dam substantially reduces flooding along the Quinebaug
Quinebaug River
The Quinebaug River is a river in south-central Massachusetts and eastern Connecticut, with watershed extending into western Rhode Island. The name "Quinebaug" comes from the southern New England Native American term, spelled variously Qunnubbâgge, Quinibauge, etc., meaning "long pond", from...
and Thames
Thames River (Connecticut)
The Thames River is a short river and tidal estuary in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It flows south for through eastern Connecticut from the junction of the Yantic and Shetucket rivers at Norwich, to New London and Groton, which flank its mouth at the Long Island Sound.Differing from its...
rivers. Construction of the project began in 1958 with completion in 1960 at a cost of US$7,020,000.
The East Brimfield reservoir is located within the Quinebaug River Watershed and is part of the Thames River Basin. Access to the site is available from US Route 20.
Description
The project consists of a rolled earth fill dam with stone slope protection 520 feet (158.5 m) long and 55 feet (16.8 m) high. Cut in rock, the spillway comprises a concrete weir 75 ft (22.9 m) in length. The weir's crest elevation is 19.2 feet (7.0 m) lower than the top of the dam. The permanent lake at East Brimfield Dam, East Brimfield Reservoir (which includes Long Pond, a natural body of water that was enlarged by the dam's pool) is 360 acres (1.5 km²) in size. Also located on the project are numerous natural bodies of water that are not effected by the dam under normal conditions, but are raised and inundated when the reservoir is filled for flood control. These include the 65 acres (263,045.9 m²) Lake Siog, and the 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) Lost Lake. The flood storage area for the entire project covers about 2270 acres (9.2 km²) in the towns of SturbridgeSturbridge, Massachusetts
Sturbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is home to Old Sturbridge Village living history museum and other sites of historical interest such as Tantiusques.The population was 9,268 at the 2010 census...
, Brimfield
Brimfield, Massachusetts
Brimfield is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,609 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, and Holland
Holland, Massachusetts
-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water. Holland is bounded on the east by Sturbridge; on the south by Union, Connecticut; on the west by Wales; and on the north by Brimfield. Holland is equidistant...
, Massachusetts. The entire project, including all associated lands, covers 2070 acres (8.4 km²). The East Brimfield Dam can store up to 29900 acre.ft of water, equivalent to 9.7 billion (thousand million) gallons, for flood control purposes. This is equivalent to 8.3 inches (210.8 mm) of water runoff from its drainage area of 67.5 square miles (174.8 km²).
Day Use Recreation Areas
Lake Siog Recreation Area is located at the southern end of the project on Dug Hill Road in the town of Holland. It offers a shaded picnic area, freshwater swimming beach, and 3/4 mile nature trail. This recreation area is open seasonally (1st weekend in June - Labor Day) on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10am-6pm. There is no entrance fee.Streeter Point Recreation Area is located on US Route 20 in the town of Sturbridge. It offers a freshwater swimming beach and picnic area. It is open daily in season (Memorial Day-Labor Day) from 9am-6pm. This recreation area is operated by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts)
The Department of Conservation and Recreation is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. As of May 24, 2011 the Commissioner of the DCR is Edward M. Lambert, Jr...
. There is a $5 per vehicle entrance fee.
East Brimfield Damsite is located on Riverview Avenue in the town of Sturbridge. Here, visitors can walk along the top of the dam, or walk the 3/4 mile self-guided nature trail. Open year-round, sunrise to sunset. No entrance fee.
Quinebaug River Canoe trail is a 5 miles (8 km) flatwater canoe route along the Quinebaug River from the outlet of Lake Siog to East Brimfield Reservoir. The upstream-end canoe launching point is on Pond Bridge Road in the town of Holland. The downstream-end launching point is at the East Brimfield Reservoir boat ramp on US Route 20 in the town of Brimfield. Three "rest stops" are located along the way with benches for a quick rest. Ovrnight camping is prohibited. This is a designated National Recreational Trail and Watchable wildlife Area. No fee for use.
Champeaux Road Fishing Area is a handicapped accessible fishing area near the northern end of the reservoir, along Champeaux Road in the town of Sturbridge. Facilities include a parking area, and two accessible fishing platforms on the shoreline of Long Pond. No fee for use.
Boat Ramps
Long Pond Boat Ramp is located on the north side of US Route 20 in the town of Sturbridge. Paved area with portable toilet and information kiosk. Open in winter for ice fishing access. No fee.Reservoir Boat Ramp is located on the south side of US Route 20 in the town of Brimfield. Paved area with information kiosk. Closed in winter. No fee.
Holland Pond Boat Launch is located on Pond Bridge Road in the town of Holland. Unpaved area with information kisok. Recommended for car-top launching only. No fee.