Oliverian Dam dam
Oliverian Dam
Oliverian Dam, also known as Baker Site 1 Dam, is a state-owned structure located in Benton, New Hampshire, along the Oliverian Brook. Built in 1962 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction, with a height of 51.5 feet and a length of 1060 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 2664 acre-feet and a drainage area of 11.3 square miles, making it a crucial component in managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the NHDES Dam Bureau, Oliverian Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state of New Hampshire to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition has been assessed as satisfactory, with the last inspection conducted in October 2020. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, and emergency action plans are in place to mitigate any potential risks associated with the structure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Oliverian Dam represents a vital infrastructure that plays a significant role in flood risk reduction and water management in Grafton County, New Hampshire. With its strategic location and design, the dam serves as a critical component in protecting communities and ecosystems along the Oliverian Brook, highlighting the importance 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 Oliverian Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut River At Wells River | 4,230 cfs | → |
| Wells River At Wells River | 199 cfs | → |
| Pemigewasset River At Woodstock | 681 cfs | → |
| East Branch Pemigewasset River At Lincoln | 440 cfs | → |
| Baker River Near Rumney | 302 cfs | → |
| Pemigewasset River At Plymouth | 1,690 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oliverian Dam.
Boat launches
- Olivarian Road 99, Benton
- Oliverian Boating Site
- Armington Lake Boat Launch
- French Pond Boat Launch
- Upper Baker Pond Boat Launch
- Lower Baker Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Jeffers Brook Shelter
- Ore Hill Tentsite
- Beaver Brook Shelter
- Harkdale Farm Campsite
- Underhill Campsite
- Wildwood Campground
Paddle runs
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
- Thornton Railroad Bridge To Bridgewater/Bristol Town Line
- Headwaters At Profile Lake To Southern Boundary Of Franconia Notch State Park
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
Track Oliverian 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 Oliverian Dam
Where does the data for Oliverian 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 Oliverian Dam.