Birch Hill Dam is located in Royalston, Massachusetts on the Millers River, 11 miles northeast of Athol and 75 miles northwest of Boston. From Gardner, it can be reached traveling 11 miles north on Route 68. In conjunction with the dam at Tully Lake, Birch Hill Dam provides flood protection to Athol, Orange, and other communities on the Millers River. Birch Hill Dam also helps to reduce damages along the main stem of the Connecticut River. The project was authorized in 1936, while construction of the dam began in June 1940 and was completed in February 1942 at a cost of $4.8 million. The project has prevented $78.1 million in flood damages since it was built (as of September 2011). The project offers recreational opportunities compatible with the primary function of flood risk management. 

While the main purpose of Birch Hill Dam is to provide flood risk management to the Lower Connecticut River Basin, over the years the project has become popular for recreation, with over 4,000 acres available to the public. The project offers many recreational opportunities such as kayaking and canoeing, biking, camping, fishing, hunting, hiking/walking, horseback riding, picnicking, snowmobiling, swimming, and wildlife observation.   

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the natural resources at Birch Hill Dam for multiple uses: flood risk management, wildlife habitat, forest production, watershed protection, and outdoor recreation. The outdoor sports enthusiast can hunt and fish according to state laws. All project lands and waters are under the jurisdiction of CFR Title 36 regulations, state, and local laws. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is updating the Birch Hill Dam Master Plan. The Master Plan is the strategic land use management document that guides the comprehensive management and development of all project resources throughout the life of a USACE project. The Master Plan guides efficient and cost-effective management, development, and use of project lands. It is a vital tool for the responsible stewardship and sustainability of project resources for the benefit of present and future generations. The Master Plan guides and articulates USACE responsibilities, pursuant to federal laws to preserve, conserve, restore, maintain, manage, and develop project lands and waters and associated resources. The intent of an updated Master Plan is to present a current inventory and assessment of resources, provide an analysis of resource use, and evaluate existing and future needs required to protect and improve the value of resources at a project. 

The current Birch Hill Dam Master Plan, last approved in 1977, needs revision to address changes in regional land use, population, outdoor recreation trends, and the USACE management policy. Key topics to be discussed in the revised Master Plan include revised land use classifications, new natural and recreational resource management objectives, recreation facility needs, and special issues such as invasive species management and threatened and endangered species habitat. The Master Plan revision WILL NOT address the technical and operational aspects of the project related to flood risk management or the water conservation missions of the project. During the process, the team will collect data, conduct analysis, prepare a draft report (which will become available for public and agency comments), and ultimately finalize and adopt the new Master Plan. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is notifying the public and inviting a public comment period from February 27 through March 30, 2026 to share details on the draft revision process of the Birch Hill Dam Master Plan, which is from 1977. Public comments must be in writing and submitted via email, mail, or in person to the Tully Lake project office.