West Hill Dam

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. As one of many Protected areas of the United States, it can also be described as a minor National Recreation Area of the United States. 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, near the Upton State Forest. West Hill Dam was built after devastating floods om the 1950's, to protect the Blackstone Valley from future destructive flooding. The cities and towns down river from Uxbridge, including Millville, Blackstone, Woonsocket, Cubmerland and all the way to 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 West River Reservoir is well known for fishing. [http://www.fishingworks.com/lakes/massachusetts/worcester/grafton/west-river-reservoir/] 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. One of the stated pursposes of US Army Corps of Engineers projects is preservation and restoration of the ecosystem. The West Hill Dam Project is an example of that.

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, Massachusetts. 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 14 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.

ee also

*West River (Massachusetts)
*Uxbridge, Massachusetts
*Northbridge, Massachusetts
*Army Corps of Engineers
*Blackstone Valley
*Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park

Notes

* [http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/whd/whdhome.htm US Army Corps of Engineers, West Hill Dam, Uxbridge, Massachusetts]