About the Quabbin
The Story Behind the Quabbin Reservoir
For thousands of years, this valley was home to the Nipmuc people, who called it Quabbin “the meeting of many waters.” By the 17th century, their numbers had been devastated by war and disease, and European settlers soon arrived, drawn by the region’s fertile land and abundant water.
Fast forward to the late 1800s: Boston was running out of clean water. The search for a new source led west, to this very valley.
In the 1930s, four towns, Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott, were disincorporated and their residents forced to leave. Massive infrastructure projects followed: the Winsor Dam, Goodnough Dike, and an aqueduct to carry water east. By 1939, the valley began to flood. By 1946, the Quabbin Reservoir was full.
Today, the Quabbin holds 412 billion gallons of water, spans 25,000 acres, and boasts 118 miles of shoreline. It remains one of the largest unfiltered drinking water supplies in the U.S.
Want to explore more of this powerful history? Visit the Friends of the Quabbin website to learn more.
The following are some images from the Quabbin Reservoir and you can click on any image to expand it.
These images were provided courtesy of Comeau Photography.
Sunset over the North Quabbin
Almost every gate into the Quabbin has a fantastic view
Summer Moonrise
Just as the sun goes down, a full moon rises
A Pond
Within the Quabbin reservation there are many ponds that are home to a diversity of wildlife
Fall on the Swift River
The Swift River, which was dammed up to create the Quabbin, provides another place for vibrant fall colors while kayaking
Spillway Bridge
The bridge at the spillway in Quabbin Park serves as a frame for some vivid foliage
Seasons on the Quabbin
The same location can give you dramatically different views depending upon the season
