Westville Dam

Infobox_Dam
dam_name= Westville Dam


caption= Westville Lake and Dam
official_name= Westville Dam
crosses= Quinebaug River
reservoir= Westville Lake
locale= Southbridge and Sturbridge, Massachusetts
maint= Army Corps of Engineers
length= 560 ft
height= 78 ft
top_width= convert|25|ft|m|abbr=on
began= June 1960
open= August 1962
closed=
bridge_carries= Dam service road / Westville Community trail
bridge_width= One lane
bridge_clearance= Unrestricted
bridge_traffic= < 10 vehicles
coordinates=
lat=
long=The Westville Dam is located on the Quinebaug River in Southbridge, Massachusetts, about convert|1.3|mi|km west of the center of town and convert|18|mi|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 June 1960 with completion in August 1962 at a cost of US$5.6 million.

The Westville reservoir is located within the Quinebaug River Watershed and is part of the Thames River Basin. Access to the site is available from Interstate 84 and State Route 131.

Description

The project consists of an earth fill dam with stone slope protection convert|560|ft|m long and convert|78|ft|m high. Located over the outlet channel, the spillway comprises a concrete weir convert|200|ft|m|abbr=on in length. The weir's crest elevation is convert|15|ft|m lower than the top of the dam. The dam creates a permanent lake 23 acres in size with a maximum depth of convert|16|ft|m|abbr=on The flood storage area for the project covers about convert|913|acre|km2 in the towns of Southbridge and Sturbridge, Massachusetts. The entire project, including all associated lands, covers convert|510|acre|km2. The Westville Dam can store up to 3.61 billion gallons of water for flood control purposes. This is equivalent to convert|6.5|in|mm of water covering its drainage area of 32 square miles.

Recreation Areas

There is a large picnic/recreation area, with two reserveable picnic shleters located near the south end of the lake. The entrance is on Wallace Road in Sturbridge, near the Quinebaug river bridge. A boat ramp is also located in the recreation area. Camping and swimming are not permitted. The is no entrance fee. The recreation area is open daily during the summer season (3rd Saturday in May to the Sunday after Labor Day) from 8am to 8pm.

A convert|1.8|mi|km|sing=on loop trail, known as the Westville Lake Community trail, circles the lake. It is open to all non-motoized use. It can be accessed from the recreation area, the damsite parking lot, and the Wallace Road trailhead.

The Heritage trail, a walking trail, starts at the damsite and heads north along the river to nearby West Street School.

The Grand Trunk Trail, which follows the grade of the never completed Southern New England Railroad, leads convert|1.1|mi|km from the recreation area to River Road in Sturbridge. The western half of the Community Trail loop follows this railbed as well. The trails, including the damsite and Wallace Road parking areas, are open year-round from sunrise to sunset.

A canoe launching area and fishing area is located along Old Mashapug Road west of the recreation area. Canoeists can paddle up the Quinebaug River as far as Turner's Club Field in the village of Fiskdale, approx. convert|5|mi|km upstream. Old Mashapaug Road is open to vehicles during daylight hours from the opening of fishing season in April to the sunday after Labor Day.

A 3/4 mile trail is also available in the Hobbs Brook area of the project, with a trailhead off Hall Road in Sturbridge.

References

* [http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/wvl/wvlhome.htm] Basic info website