Pleasant Lake Dam dam
Pleasant Lake Dam
Pleasant Lake Dam, also known as Elkins Dam, is a local government-owned structure located in New London, New Hampshire, along the TR Blackwater River. Completed in 1850, this earth dam stands at a height of 13 feet and stretches 360 feet in length, holding a maximum storage capacity of 7,744 acre-feet. The primary purpose of Pleasant Lake Dam is recreation, providing a surface area of 604 acres for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment and high hazard potential, Pleasant Lake Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 20 feet and has a moderate risk rating of 3. In case of emergencies, the dam has an emergency action plan in place, last revised in 2015, to ensure the safety of nearby residents and visitors.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the historical significance and recreational value of Pleasant Lake Dam. Its location in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, offers a tranquil setting for outdoor activities, with opportunities for boating, fishing, and wildlife observation. As a regulated structure with a focus on public safety and risk management, Pleasant Lake Dam serves as a vital asset for both the local community and the natural environment.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Smith River Near Bristol | 180 cfs | → |
| Merrimack River At Franklin Junction | 5,420 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Webster | 19 cfs | → |
| Warner River At Davisville | 405 cfs | → |
| Winnipesaukee River At Tilton | 1,590 cfs | → |
| Contoocook R Bl Hopkinton Dam At W Hopkinton | 1,080 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
- Lake Avenue 51, Newbury
- Adder Pond Boat Launch
- Waukeena Lake Boat Launch
- Sunapee Lake Boat Launch
- Perkins Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Camp Wilmot
- Northstar Campground
- Clark Brook Campsite
- Cardigan Campsites
- Mile-Away Campground
- Camp Spaulding
Paddle runs
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- Thornton Railroad Bridge To Bridgewater/Bristol Town Line
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
- Headwaters To Crossing Of Route 100 Near Route 155
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
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 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 Pleasant Lake Dam.