Quabbin Reservoir

The Quabbin Reservoir is the largest inland body of water in Massachusetts, United States, and was built between 1930 and 1939. Along with the 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 acts as backup supply for three others.^[2] By 1989, it supplied water for 2.5 million people, about 40% of the state's population at the time.^[1] It has an aggregate capacity of 412 billion US gallons (1,560 GL) and an area of 38.6 square miles (99.9 km²).

Quabbin Reservoir

Massachusetts, US

42°21′33″N 72°18′00″W / 42.35917°N 72.30000°W / 42.35917; -72.30000

Reservoir

Swift River

United States

18 miles (28.9 km)

38.6 mi² (99.97 km²)

51 ft (16 m)

151 ft (46 m)

412,000,000,000 US gal (1.56 km³)

181 mi (291 km)

522 ft (159 m)

Belchertown, Petersham, Hardwick, Ware, New Salem, Shutesbury, Pelham^[1]

History[edit]

Demand for water exceeds local supplies[edit]

Metropolitan Boston's demands for fresh water began to outstrip its local supplies in the early part of the nineteenth century. Many possible sources of water were explored, including groundwater and rivers, but none were considered adequate in quantity and cleanliness to meet the needs of the rapidly growing city. In 1848, after several years of controversy, the Massachusetts General Court (the official name of the state legislature) authorized the construction of the Cochituate Aqueduct to bring water to Boston from Lake Cochituate in Wayland and Natick.^[3]

This established three important policies, which remain in force today:

's story "The Colour Out of Space" is set in the valley before it was flooded for the reservoir.^[10] His fictional town of Dunwich in "The Dunwich Horror", written in 1928, is partially based on the town of Greenwich (before reservoir plans were made).^[11]

H. P. Lovecraft

's novel Stillwater is set in the valley while the reservoir is under construction.

William Weld

Both the film and the Stephen King novel upon which it was based have scenes set at the Quabbin Reservoir.

Dreamcatcher

In 's mystery novel, Emily Dickinson is Dead, the drowned villages and the reservoir have a dark role to play.

Jane Langton

's picture book, Letting Swift River Go, is about the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir from the perspective of a young girl who grew up in the valley.

Jane Yolen

During his 2020 Massachusetts Democratic primary campaign for U.S. Senate, former U.S. Representative accused his rival, Sen. Ed Markey, of ignoring the towns of Dana, Prescott, and Enfield, which were disincorporated more than eighty years earlier.^[12]

Joe Kennedy III

, a black and white comic book series by Stephen Murphy and Michael Zulli, takes place in an alternate early 21st century and involves a colony of flying manta rays living within the freshwater reservoir.

The Puma Blues

's book Dark Rites, from her Krewe of Hunters series, takes place largely around the reservoir.

Heather Graham Pozzessere

's book How to Find Your Way in the Dark, includes mention of the flooding that eliminated the drowned villages.

Derek B. Miller

In the film , the Quabbin Reservoir is mentioned several times as the characters navigate through a post-apocalyptic Massachusetts.

Mother/Android

Western Massachusetts band released an EP titled "Under Quabbin" in 1986. The album cover features a historical photo of a house in the town of Enfield. The lyrics of the first track, "Madame Nothing," include references to the creation of the reservoir and individuals who lived in the "drowned towns."^[13]

Rapture of the Deep

Nichewaug, Massachusetts

Quabbin Valley

Conuel, Thomas. Quabbin: The Accidental Wilderness. Amherst, Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts Press, 1990. 082890457X OCLC 07795937

ISBN

Kelkowski, Ed. Under Quabbin: The Search for the Lost Towns, A WGBY Production. 2001. DVD 974.423 61519583

OCLC

Greene, J.R. "The Creation of Quabbin Reservoir; The Death of the Swift River Valley." The Transcript Press, 32 Freedom Street, Athol, MA 01331, 1981. 0-9609404-0-5 OCLC 09778808

ISBN

Greene, J.R. "From valley to Quabbin 1938–1946." Athol Press, Athol MA 01331, 2010. 690195965

OCLC

Peirce, Elizabeth. "The lost towns of the Quabbin Valley." Arcadia, Charleston, S.C., 2003. 9780738512198 OCLC 62490764

ISBN

Tougias, Michael. Quabbin: A History and Explorer's Guide. Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts: On Cape Publications, 2002. 50812740

OCLC

Official website

Quabbin Reservoir levels

— WBUR-FM documentary about the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir

Haunting the Quabbin: Inside Out

— A non-profit organization devoted to increasing awareness of the Quabbin Reservoir; the website contains information on the reservoir and the surrounding reservation

Friends of Quabbin, Inc.

— A map showing the Swift River Valley as of 1922, before the construction of the reservoir (from the State Library of Massachusetts)

Quabbin Reservoir