| Barre Falls Dam | |
| Name Official: | Barre Falls Dam |
| Dam Crosses: | Ware River |
| Res Name: | Barre Falls temporary impoundment area |
| Location: | Barre, Massachusetts |
| Operator: | Army Corps of Engineers |
| Dam Length: | 3215feet |
| Dam Height: | 69feet |
| Construction Began: | 1956 |
| Opening: | 1959 |
| Coordinates: | 42.4278°N -72.0253°W |
The Barre Falls Dam is located on the Ware River in Barre, Massachusetts, about 0.3miles below the junction of the river's east and west branches and 13miles northwest of Worcester, Massachusetts.
Designed and constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, this dam substantially reduces flooding along the Ware, Chicopee, and Connecticut rivers. Construction of the project began in May 1956 with completion in July 1958 at a cost of US$2 million.
The Barre Falls reservoir is located within the Upper Ware River Watershed and is part of the Chicopee River Watershed. Access to the site is available from Route 62.
| Barre Falls Dam bridge | |
| Carries: | Rueben Walker Road |
| Width: | Two lanes |
| Clearance: | Unrestricted |
| Traffic: | < 100 vehicles |
The project consists of an earth fill dam with stone slope protection 885feet long and 69feet high. There are three dikes totaling 3215feet in length with a maximum elevation of 48feet. Cut in rock, the spillway comprises a concrete weir 60feet. in length. The weir's crest elevation is 23feet lower than the top of the dam. There is no lake at the Barre Falls Dam. The flood storage area for the project, which is normally empty, stores floodwaters and covers about 1500acres in the towns of Barre, Hubbardston, Rutland, and Oakham, Massachusetts. The entire project, including all associated lands, covers 2407acres. The Barre Falls Dam can store up to 7.82e9USgal of water for flood control purposes. This is equivalent to 8.2inches of water covering its drainage area of 55abbr=offNaNabbr=off.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation manage and preserve the land for water quality protection. The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority manages these water resources, which are part of the public water supply for the Greater Boston area. The Corps assists the MWRA by coordinating flows to maximize diversion rates, and the MWRA assists the Corps when requested to divert excess flows to help with flood control. Camping, swimming and wading are not permitted. However, there is an 18-hole disc golf course which spans much of the premises.