Crystal Lake Dam dam
Crystal Lake Dam
Crystal Lake Dam, located in Enfield, New Hampshire, stands as a vital structure regulating the flow of Crystal Lake Brook. Built in 1918, this Earth-type dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene environment for visitors to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area. With a height of 22 feet and a length of 170 feet, the dam holds a storage capacity of 4560 acre-feet, providing essential water resources for the region.
Managed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau, Crystal Lake Dam is under state jurisdiction for regulation, inspection, and enforcement. The dam boasts a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk level, with regular inspections conducted to ensure its structural integrity and safety. While its condition assessment is currently not rated, the dam has an emergency action plan in place, updated in 2014, to respond effectively to any potential risks or incidents.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Crystal Lake Dam presents a fascinating case study of how a historic structure continues to play a crucial role in water management and recreation. As climate change impacts water resources worldwide, the management and maintenance of dams like Crystal Lake Dam are essential to ensure the safety and sustainability of our water systems for future generations.
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 Crystal Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut River At West Lebanon | 6,790 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River At North Hartland | 394 cfs | → |
| Ompompanoosuc River At Union Village | 16 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Bristol | 180 cfs | → |
| Baker River Near Rumney | 367 cfs | → |
| White River At West Hartford | 1,370 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crystal Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Crystal Lake Boat Launch
- George Pond Boat Launch
- Grafton Pond Boat Launch
- Mascoma Lake Boat Launch
- Tewksbury Pond Boat Launch
- Mcdaniels Marsh Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Moose Mountain Shelter
- Clark Brook Campsite
- Cardigan Campsites
- Velvet Rocks Shelter
- Camp Wilmot
- Storrs Pond Rec Area
Paddle runs
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- Thornton Railroad Bridge To Bridgewater/Bristol Town Line
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- Headwaters To Woodstock, Vt
Track Crystal 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 Crystal Lake Dam
Where does the data for Crystal 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 Significant 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 Crystal Lake Dam.