The dam at Westville Lake is situated on the Quinebaug River in the towns of Southbridge and Sturbridge, Massachusetts, approximately seven miles downstream from Old Sturbridge Village. This facility is part of a network of six dams constructed and maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to relieve the effects of flooding along the major rivers of the Thames River Basin.

The Corps controls the flow of the Quinebaug River through the Westville Lake dam by raising and lowering three 4'x 6' electrically operated steel gates. During flood conditions, these gates can be lowered to hold back water behind the dam until it can be safely released downstream in a safe, controlled manner. The Westville Lake dam provides flood protection for several communities along the Quinebaug River including, Southbridge and Dudley in Massachusetts and Putnam, Danielson, Jewett City, and Norwich in Connecticut.

The Reservoir Regulation Team (RRT) in Concord, Massachusetts, uses radio and satellite communications to monitor river levels and weather conditions that influence flood control. The RRT then uses this information to direct water regulation activities at New England flood control dams such as Westville Lake.

Westville Lake was placed into operation in September 1962 at a cost of $6,500,000. As of September 2009, it had prevented $49,325,000 in flood damages.

Project Statistics

Dam:
Type: Earth and rockfill
Length: 560'
Height: 78'
Top Width: 25'
Base Width: 400'
Total Embankment: 208,000 cubic yards
Elevation of dam crest: 587 ft above sea level

Outlet Works:
Type: Rectangular Conduit
Gates: Three, 4' x 6'

Spillway:
Length: 200 ft
Elevation of crest: 572 ft above sea level
Concrete: 11,200 cubic yards

Reservoir:
Recreation lake area: 23 acres
Flood control area: 1,082 acres
Capacity: 3.61 billion gallons (11,100 acre-feet)
Drainage Area: 99.5 sq. miles
Record High Water: 50.5 feet deep at inlet (June 1984)