Pleasant Lake Dam dam
Pleasant Lake Dam
Pleasant Lake Dam in Deerfield, New Hampshire, is a state-regulated structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1921, this Earth dam stands at a height of 7 feet and spans 225 feet in length, providing a normal storage capacity of 552 acre-feet. The dam is located on the TR Little Suncook River and is under the jurisdiction of the NHDES Dam Bureau.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Pleasant Lake Dam poses a moderate risk, as indicated by its Risk Assessment rating of 3. With a maximum discharge of 94 cubic feet per second and an uncontrolled spillway type, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are currently unspecified. Regular inspections, with the last conducted in November 2017, help ensure the dam's structural integrity and public safety.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Pleasant Lake Dam an interesting case study, showcasing the intersection of recreational use, regulatory oversight, and risk management in maintaining a historic structure that plays a vital role in managing water resources in Rockingham County, 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 Pleasant 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 | → |
| Oyster River Near Durham | 11 cfs | → |
| Isinglass R At Rochester Neck Rd | 53 cfs | → |
| Lamprey River Near Newmarket | 119 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pleasant Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Pleasant Lake Boat Launch
- Northwood Lake Boat Launch
- Chestnut Pond Boat Launch
- Jenness Pond Boat Launch
- Deer Meadow Pond Boat Launch
- Suncook River Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Saddleback Campground
- Remote Campsite
- Old Stage Campground
- Camp Spaulding
- Green Tops Campground
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
Track Pleasant 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 Pleasant Lake Dam
Where does the data for Pleasant 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 Pleasant Lake Dam.