Webster Lake Dam dam
Webster Lake Dam
Webster Lake Dam, located in Franklin, New Hampshire, is a concrete buttress dam completed in 1873 with a primary purpose of recreation. Standing at a height of 14 feet and a length of 133 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 2650 acre-feet and serves as a vital component for managing water resources in the area. The dam regulates Chance Pond Brook and has a spillway width of 99 feet to control maximum discharge levels.
Despite being classified with a high hazard potential, Webster Lake Dam is currently rated in fair condition, with the last inspection conducted in May 2020. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau oversees the regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement of the dam, ensuring its safety and compliance with state standards. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam is equipped with emergency action plans and protocols to mitigate any potential risks and ensure public safety. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the historical significance and functional importance of Webster Lake Dam in managing water levels and providing recreational opportunities in the Merrimack region of New Hampshire.
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 Webster Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Merrimack River At Franklin Junction | 5,420 cfs | → |
| Winnipesaukee River At Tilton | 1,590 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Bristol | 180 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Webster | 19 cfs | → |
| Warner River At Davisville | 405 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 Webster Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Webster Lake Boat Launch
- Giles Pond Boat Launch
- Highland Lake Boat Launch
- Winnipesaukee River Boat Launch
- Merrimack River Boat Launch
- Adder Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Camp Wilmot
- Camp Spaulding
- Clark Brook Campsite
- Cardigan Campsites
- Mile-Away Campground
- Owl's Landing Campground
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 At Profile Lake To Southern Boundary Of Franconia Notch State Park
Track Webster 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 Webster Lake Dam
Where does the data for Webster 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 Webster Lake Dam.