Millville Lake Dam dam
Millville Lake Dam
Millville Lake Dam, located in Salem, New Hampshire, stands as a critical structure regulating the flow of the Hitty Titty Brook, serving primarily for recreational purposes since its completion in 1917. This earth dam reaches a height of 20 feet and spans 484 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 690 acre-feet and a surface area of 54 acres. Despite its age, the dam has faced challenges in recent years, with a poor condition assessment and a high hazard potential, prompting regular inspections by the NHDES DAM BUREAU to ensure public safety.
The dam's location within Rockingham County, New Hampshire, underscores its significance in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region. Additionally, its moderate risk assessment highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to address potential vulnerabilities. With a history of modifications dating back to its construction, the Millville Lake Dam serves as a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts, showcasing the intersection of infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and community resilience in safeguarding against natural disasters.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to advocate for sustainable practices and infrastructure improvements, the Millville Lake Dam presents a compelling case study for the intersection of recreational, regulatory, and environmental concerns. With its poor condition assessment and high hazard potential, the dam serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in managing aging infrastructure and navigating the complexities of water resource management in the face of climate change. As stakeholders work towards enhancing the dam's resilience and addressing safety concerns, the Millville Lake Dam remains a vital component of the region's water infrastructure, embodying the delicate balance between human development and environmental preservation.
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 Millville Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spicket River At North Salem | 0 cfs | → |
| Spicket River Near Methuen | 16 cfs | → |
| Beaver Brook At North Pelham | 31 cfs | → |
| Merrimack River Bl Concord River At Lowell | 10,100 cfs | → |
| Concord R Below R Meadow Brook | 315 cfs | → |
| Parker River At Byfield | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Millville Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Ridgewood Lane Methuen
- Canoe Launch Windham
- Methuen Riverside Boat Ramp
- Stanley Drive 2-4, Haverhill
- South River Street, Haverhill
- Wolcott Avenue 57, Lawrence
Campgrounds
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
- Camp Evergreen
- Salisbury State Park Reservation
- Remote Campsite
- Tidewater Campground
- Grotonwood
Paddle runs
Track Millville 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 Millville Lake Dam
Where does the data for Millville 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 Millville Lake Dam.