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Publication Date
2024-12
Document Type
Capstone
Study Type
ENX 301
Department
Environmental Science and Policy
Advisors
Paul Wetzel and Gaby Immerman
Abstract
The Mill River corridor in Williamsburg, Massachusetts has a profound historical relationship with flooding that shapes contemporary approaches to water management and community resilience. On May 16, 1874, the Williamsburg Reservoir dam catastrophically failed, releasing over 600 million gallons of water into the Mill River that devastated communities along an 8-mile path downstream1 The resulting flood claimed 139 lives and obliterated four Mill River villages, marking one of America's first major dam disasters. The tragedy stemmed from a fatal combination of cost-cutting measures, inadequate oversight, and structural instability - the dam had exhibited concerning leaks since its completion in 1866. Despite an extensive inquest that identified multiple parties responsible for the disaster, no one was ever held accountable, setting a troubling precedent for infrastructure accountability in the region.
Rights
©2024 The Authors
Recommended Citation
Stein, Lydia; Tejada, Maria; Qin, Ray; and Neu, Molly, "Mill River Community Flood Study Williamsburg, Massachusetts" (2024). Capstone, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/other_projects/262
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