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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: October 24, 2005
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM AGAIN ASKS DAM OWNERS AND MUNICIPALITIES
TO CONTINUE DAM WATCH
No Indications of Imminent Dam Failures

PROVIDENCE - In preparation for additional rainfall expected tonight and tomorrow, the Department of Environmental Management is asking dam owners and municipal emergency response personnel to continue to keep an eye on their dams and maintain water levels as necessary.

Weather reports are currently predicting between 1.5 and 3 inches of rain between midnight tonight and 6 p.m. Tuesday. The ground is still saturated from last week's significant rainfall, combined with rain this past weekend, and therefore unable to handle additional infiltration. According to NOAA weather, Rhode Island is expected to establish a new all-time monthly statewide record rainfall total of near 16 inches.

Dam owners do not need permission from DEM to operate flood control mechanisms if they feel that lowering the water level behind a dam is necessary to maintain its integrity. Local public safety officials, as well as DEM, should be notified if there is any apparent threat of dam failure or concern with conditions.

Although DEM at this time has no indication that a dam is in imminent danger of failure, dams that are ill-maintained or poorly operated have the potential to cause flooding should they fail.

There are more than 600 dams in the state, with 61 classified as high hazard and 20 as significant hazard. Six of those high hazard dams are considered unsafe. They are: Tiogue Dam and Coventry Reservoir Dam, both in Coventry, Stone Dam in Cranston, Yorker (Yawgoo) Mill Dam in Exeter, Limerock Dam in Lincoln, and Slacks Dam in Smithfield. More than 540 dams are considered low hazard or, in several cases, are not yet classified. Seventy percent of Rhode Island dams are privately owned, with 18 percent owned by municipalities and 12 percent owned and maintained by the state. DEM staff will be on duty and monitoring conditions throughout the new storm event, working in coordination with the RI Emergency Management Agency.

DEM's enforcement office maintains a 24-hour dispatch hotline for emergencies. That number is 222-3070.

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For General Information 222-6800 • After Hours Emergencies 222-3070 • Disclaimer