Tully Lake


Tully Lake, of Royalston, Massachusetts, is a reservoir and flood control project constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1949 for 1.6 million dollars. The project prevents flooding of the greater Connecticut River and Millers River valleys and provides a variety of recreational opportunities, including a campground operated by The Trustees of Reservations. Tully Lake is an important link in the Tully Trail.

Flood control

As of 2007, the USACE reported that Tully Lake had prevented an estimated $26 million in flood damages. The dam's capacity is of water; it can contain 7.72 inches of rainfall runoff and has a downstream channel capacity of. The closest the lake has come to capacity was in 1987, when it rose to 62%.

Recreation

Tully Lake is open to fishing, small boats, hiking, cross country skiing, mountain biking, picnicking, hunting, and swimming. Motor vehicles are not allowed on the property. The USACE maintains a disc golf course, a mountain bike trail, and a picnic area. In conjunction with The Trustees of Reservations, a non-profit conservation organization, the USACE manages a 35 site tent-only camping facility on Tully Lake.
The Tully Trail, a recreational trail cooperatively managed by the USACE, TTOR, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the National Park Service, and the Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, runs along the northern shore of Tully Lake.