Pillsbury Lake Dam dam
Pillsbury Lake Dam
Located in Webster, New Hampshire, the Pillsbury Lake Dam is a vital structure that plays a key role in recreation purposes. Built in 1964, this earth dam stands at a height of 13 feet and stretches for 280 feet along Deer Meadow Brook. With a storage capacity of 377 acre-feet, the dam provides a surface area of 67 acres for recreational activities and a drainage area of 12.8 square miles.
Managed by the NHDES Dam Bureau, the Pillsbury Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently in satisfactory condition, as assessed in June 2017. Despite its uncontrolled spillway type, the dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 640 cubic feet per second, ensuring effective water management in the area. The dam is regularly inspected every 6 years to ensure its safety and functionality.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Pillsbury Lake Dam serves as a fascinating example of how dams can be utilized for recreational purposes while also contributing to effective water management in the region. Its moderate risk assessment rating highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and reliability of this critical infrastructure in New Hampshire.
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 Pillsbury Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackwater River Near Webster | 19 cfs | → |
| Warner River At Davisville | 348 cfs | → |
| Contoocook R Bl Hopkinton Dam At W Hopkinton | 758 cfs | → |
| Merrimack River At Franklin Junction | 4,850 cfs | → |
| Soucook River | 22 cfs | → |
| Winnipesaukee River At Tilton | 1,610 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pillsbury Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Depot Lane Hopkinton
- Merrimack River Boat Launch
- Contoocook River Boat Launch
- Clement Pond Boat Launch
- Maple Street Hopkinton
Campgrounds
- Camp Spaulding
- Mile-Away Campground
- Camp Wilmot
- Northstar Campground
- Fox Brook Tent Site
- Saddleback Campground
Paddle runs
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- Thornton Railroad Bridge To Bridgewater/Bristol Town Line
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To Crossing Of Route 100 Near Route 155
Track Pillsbury 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 Pillsbury Lake Dam
Where does the data for Pillsbury 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 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 Pillsbury Lake Dam.