Meredith Reservoir Dam dam
Meredith Reservoir Dam
Meredith Reservoir Dam, located in Meredith, New Hampshire, serves as a vital water supply structure managed by the local government. Completed in 1934, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and stretches 400 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 28 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 170 cubic feet per second. The dam, designed primarily for water supply purposes, overlooks TR Lake Waukewan and covers a surface area of 3 acres within a drainage area of 0.17 square miles.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the NHDES Dam Bureau, ensuring compliance with state safety standards and guidelines. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam's condition is currently not rated, and no emergency action plan has been prepared or updated. While the dam's risk management measures are unspecified, its controlled by an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 14 feet. Overall, Meredith Reservoir Dam stands as a crucial infrastructure supporting water supply needs in the region, warranting ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and functionality.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in the area can appreciate Meredith Reservoir Dam for its historical significance, engineering design, and essential role in water management. The dam's location within Belknap County, New Hampshire, underscores its importance in sustaining local water resources and serving the community's needs. As a key structure under state jurisdiction, the dam's operation and maintenance by the local government emphasize the commitment to ensuring water supply reliability and safety for residents. With its moderate risk assessment, the dam presents an opportunity for continuous evaluation and improvement to mitigate potential hazards and enhance its resilience 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 Meredith Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pemigewasset River At Plymouth | 1,690 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Bristol | 160 cfs | → |
| Winnipesaukee River At Tilton | 1,610 cfs | → |
| Merrimack River At Franklin Junction | 4,850 cfs | → |
| Bearcamp River At South Tamworth | 164 cfs | → |
| Baker River Near Rumney | 302 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Meredith Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Wickwas Lake Boat Launch
- Winona Lake Boat Launch
- Bell Street Lakeport
- Kanasatka Lake Boat Launch
- Messer Street Lakeport
- Beacon Street West 53, Laconia
Campgrounds
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
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- Headwaters At Profile Lake To Southern Boundary Of Franconia Notch State Park
Track Meredith Reservoir 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 Meredith Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Meredith Reservoir 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 Meredith Reservoir Dam.