Silver Lake Dam Dam
Silver Lake Dam
Silver Lake Dam, located in Madison, New Hampshire, is a concrete buttress dam completed in 1926 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at 8 feet high and spans 60 feet in length, holding a storage capacity of 5,500 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 3,000 acre-feet. Situated on the West Ossipee Branch river, the dam has a drainage area of 22.2 square miles and a maximum discharge rate of 1,345 cubic feet per second.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Silver Lake Dam's condition was assessed as fair during the last inspection in 2012. The dam is regulated by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau and undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in June 2019. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam's risk management measures and emergency action plan status are currently unlisted, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and stability of the structure for both recreational and environmental purposes in the region.
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 Silver Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bearcamp River At South Tamworth | 19 cfs | → |
| Saco River Near Conway | 396 cfs | → |
| Saco River At Cornish | 1,100 cfs | → |
| Pemigewasset River At Plymouth | 272 cfs | → |
| Pemigewasset River At Woodstock | 207 cfs | → |
| East Branch Pemigewasset River At Lincoln | 109 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Silver Lake Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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River runs
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More reservoirs
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About Silver Lake Dam
Where does the data for Silver 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 below 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.
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.