Suncook Lake Dam dam
Suncook Lake Dam
Suncook Lake Dam, also known as Valley Dam, is a concrete buttress structure located in Barnstead, New Hampshire, along the Suncook River. Built in 1882, this dam primarily serves a recreational purpose, offering a picturesque setting for outdoor activities. With a height of 16 feet and a length of 140 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 7,700 acre-feet, making it a significant feature in the area with a surface area of 622 acres.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, Suncook Lake Dam faces challenges in terms of its condition assessment, which is rated as poor, and its hazard potential, considered high. The last inspection in April 2020 revealed these concerns, prompting a closer look at its structural integrity and emergency preparedness. The dam is state-regulated by the NHDES Dam Bureau, with inspection and enforcement protocols in place to ensure public safety.
While the dam's risk assessment is moderate, efforts are needed to address its poor condition and high hazard potential to mitigate any potential risks to the surrounding community and ecosystem. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to monitor the maintenance and management of Suncook Lake Dam to uphold its recreational value while ensuring its safety and resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Suncook Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Suncook River At North Chichester | 221 cfs | → |
| Soucook River | 22 cfs | → |
| Cocheco River Near Rochester | 97 cfs | → |
| Winnipesaukee River At Tilton | 1,610 cfs | → |
| Isinglass R At Rochester Neck Rd | 53 cfs | → |
| Merrimack River At Franklin Junction | 4,850 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Suncook Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Brindle Pond Boat Launch
- Upper Suncook Lake Boat Launch
- Suncook River Boat Launch
- Lougee Pond Boat Launch
- Halfmoon Lake Boat Launch
- Lily Lake Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Green Tops Campground
- Saddleback Campground
- Camp Spaulding
- Remote Campsite
- Old Stage Campground
- Heron Cove
Track Suncook Lake Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Suncook Lake Dam
Where does the data for Suncook Lake Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Suncook Lake Dam.