West Hill Dam

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West Hill Dam is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control project and wildlife preserve located at Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The West Hill Dam Project was completed in 1960. It is located on the West River, one of the branches of the Blackstone River which flows from Worcester, MA to Providence, RI. The West River originates in Upton, Massachusetts. West Hill Dam was built after devastating floods in the 1950s to protect the Blackstone Valley from future destructive flooding. The towns down river from Uxbridge, including Woonsocket, and Providence, Rhode Island, suffered extensive flooding from the Blackstone during Hurricane Diane in 1955. The West Hill Dam is located in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, and in close proximity to the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park. Park Rangers are available to help guide nature hikes. Fishing and wildlife are in abunance at this reservation. The Dam reservation area has 2 recreation areas, 34 picnic sites, 1 playground, 2 swimming areas and 7 trail miles. West Hill Dam and the Army Corps project here also is the headquarters for the Charles River Natural Watershed area which is located just to the east of West Hill Dam. The Charles River Project includes the famous Charles River which flows into Boston Harbor.

[edit] Geography of West Hill Dam

The actual summit of West Hill is in the adjacent town of Mendon, MA. West Hill is the westernmost hill in Mendon. Nearly all of its slope to the west is in Uxbridge, MA, and this is where the dam is located. The town of Northbridge, MA is immediately to the north of this site and includes some of the reservoir behind the West Hill Dam. West Hill and West Hill Dam is in the NE part of Uxbridge. The area of West Hill was one of the sites of a Praying Indian Village, established by John Eliot (missionary) circa 1640. The Blackstone Valley is a New England Upland region with elevations in this vicinity from 200 feet to over 600 feet above sea level. West Hill Dam is located about 34 Miles WSW of Boston, and about 15 miles SE of Worcester, MA.