Tully Lake in Royalston, Massachusetts is located along the Tully River in the Lower Connecticut River Basin. In conjunction with Birch Hill Dam, Tully Lake provides flood protection to Athol, Orange, and other communities on the Millers River. Tully Lake also helps to reduce damages along the main stem of the Connecticut River. Construction of the dam was initiated in March 1947 and completed in September 1949. The cost of the project was $1.7 million. In April 1987, two storms dropped about 6 inches of rain, raising the water level to over 35 feet at the dam, utilizing 62% of the storage capacity. It is estimated that Tully Lake prevented over $3 million in damages to downstream property from this one storm. The project has prevented $28.1 million in flood damages since it was built (as of September 2011).  

While the main purpose of Tully Lake is to provide flood risk management to the Lower Connecticut River Basin, over the years the project has become popular for recreation. The project provides approximately 1,300 acres to connect with nature and participate in a variety of recreational opportunities such as hiking, biking, boating, camping, disc golf, fishing, hunting, picnicking, swimming, wildlife viewing a variety of winter activities.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the natural resources at Tully Lake 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 Tully Lake 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 Tully Lake Master Plan, last approved in 1976, 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 Tully Lake Master Plan, which is from 1976. Public comments must be in writing and submitted via email, mail, or in person to the project office.