Gorham dam
Gorham
Gorham is a privately owned dam located in the scenic town of Gorham, New Hampshire, along the Androscoggin River. Built in 1958, this timber crib dam stands at 20 feet high and stretches 430 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 258 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation, making it an important infrastructure for renewable energy production in the region.
Managed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau, Gorham is regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its safe and efficient operation. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also plays a role in oversight and inspection, given the dam's hydroelectric function. With a low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Gorham is considered a vital asset for water resource management and climate-conscious energy production in the area.
Despite its low hazard potential, Gorham remains a key structure for water resource management and hydroelectric power generation in Coos County, New Hampshire. With a controlled spillway and moderate risk assessment, this dam exemplifies the balance between harnessing renewable energy sources and ensuring environmental safety. As climate enthusiasts, the data behind Gorham's design, purpose, and operation offer insights into sustainable practices for water resource management in a changing climate landscape.
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 Gorham -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin River Near Gorham | 4,510 cfs | → |
| Wild River At Gilead | 1,210 cfs | → |
| Upper Ammonoosuc River Near Groveton | 1,820 cfs | → |
| Ammonoosuc River At Bethlehem Junction | 756 cfs | → |
| Ellis River At South Andover | 1,490 cfs | → |
| Androscoggin River At Errol | 1,790 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gorham .
Boat launches
- Basin Brook Dam Boat Launch
- Overlook Road 123, Milan
- Nay Pond Boat Launch
- Milan
- Androscoggin River Boat Launch
- Androscoggin River (Pontook Reservoir) Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Rattle River Shelter
- Moose Brook State Park
- Trident Col Tentsite
- Imp Shelter
- Barnes Field Group Campground
- Dolly Copp Campground
Track Gorham 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 Gorham
Where does the data for Gorham 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 Low 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 Gorham .