Quabbin Reservoir
| Quabbin Reservoir | |
|---|---|
November 2005 | |
Quabbin Reservoir Quabbin Reservoir | |
| Location | Massachusetts, US |
| Coordinates | 42°21′33″N 72°18′00″W / 42.35917°N 72.30000°W |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Swift River |
| Primary outflows | Swift River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 18 miles (29 km) |
| Surface area | 38.6 mi2 (100 km2) |
| Average depth | 51 ft (16 m) |
| Max. depth | 151 ft (46 m) |
| Water volume | 412,000,000,000 US gal (1.56 km3) |
| Shore length1 | 181 mi (291 km) |
| Surface elevation | 522 ft (159 m) |
| Settlements | Belchertown, Petersham, Hardwick, Ware, New Salem, Shutesbury, Pelham |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Quabbin Reservoir is the largest inland body of water in Massachusetts. Along with Wachusett Reservoir, it is the primary water supply for Boston, 65 miles (105 km) to the east, and 40 other cities and towns in Greater Boston. The Quabbin also supplies water to three towns west of the reservoir and serves as a backup supply for three others. By 1989, it supplied water for 2.5 million people, about 40% of the state's population at the time. It has an aggregate capacity of 412 billion US gallons (1,560 GL) and an area of 38.6 square miles (100 km2).
Quabbin Reservoir is formed by the flooding of the Swift River Valley behind Winsor Dam and Goodnough Dike. The two structures were built between 1930 and 1939, though the reservoir took until 1946 to fill to capacity. The 25-mile (40 km) Quabbin Aqueduct carries water from Quabbin Reservoir directly to Wachusett Reservoir, diverting it out of the Connecticut River watershed.
The construction of Quabbin was subject to intense controversy, as it required the displacement of 2,500 people and the flooding of four towns: Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott.