Canaan dam
Canaan
Canaan, a private hydroelectric dam located in Stewartstown, New Hampshire, stands as a testament to early 20th-century engineering with its concrete gravity structure completed in 1927. Serving as a vital component of the Connecticut River system, Canaan boasts a low hazard potential due to its controlled spillway and careful management by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. With a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 37,000 cubic feet per second, Canaan plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and generating clean energy for the region.
Despite its age, Canaan remains in good condition and meets rigorous regulatory standards set by the NHDES Dam Bureau and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The dam's emergency action plan, last revised in 2018, ensures that proper protocols are in place to address any potential risks associated with its operation. With its very high risk assessment ranking, stakeholders are keenly aware of the importance of maintaining and monitoring Canaan to mitigate any potential issues and ensure the safety of the surrounding community and the environment.
As a cornerstone of New Hampshire's water resource infrastructure, Canaan not only provides hydroelectric power but also serves as a vital component of the region's flood control and water management system. With its historical significance and modern regulatory compliance, Canaan stands as a testament to the enduring value of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate 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 Canaan -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut R Below Indian Stream Nr Pittsburg | 562 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At North Stratford | 1,840 cfs | → |
| Diamond River Near Wentworth Location | 392 cfs | → |
| Androscoggin River At Errol | 3,030 cfs | → |
| Upper Ammonoosuc River Near Groveton | 650 cfs | → |
| East Branch Passumpsic River Near East Haven | 152 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Canaan .
Boat launches
- Back Pond Boat Launch
- Lake Access Road Canaan
- Cottage Road Averill
- Jackson Road 2281, Averill
- Back Lake Boat Launch
- Chemin Du Lac Saint-Malo
Track Canaan 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 Canaan
Where does the data for Canaan 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 Canaan .