Souhegan Site 8 Dam dam
Souhegan Site 8 Dam
Souhegan Site 8 Dam, also known as James A G Putnam Dam, is a crucial structure located in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire, along the Furnace Brook. Built in 1977 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and spans 570 feet in length. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a storage capacity of 2,721 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 7,030 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau, Souhegan Site 8 Dam is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. Classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently in satisfactory condition and its risk assessment is rated as moderate. With its uncontrolled spillway and satisfactory emergency action plan, the dam serves as a vital infrastructure for water resource management in the region, highlighting the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring for climate resilience.
Despite its critical role in flood risk reduction, Souhegan Site 8 Dam faces potential risks that necessitate ongoing risk management measures. With its location in a high-hazard area and a moderate risk assessment, the dam serves as a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in understanding the complexities of managing and maintaining essential infrastructure in the face of changing environmental conditions. As a key component of the water management system in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, this dam symbolizes the delicate balance between human development and environmental stewardship in the context of climate change.
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 Souhegan Site 8 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Souhegan River (Site Wlr-1) Near Milford | 181 cfs | → |
| Contoocook River At Peterborough | 118 cfs | → |
| Nubanusit Bk Blw Macdowell Dam Nr Peterborough Nh | 31 cfs | → |
| South Branch Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 143 cfs | → |
| Souhegan River At Merrimack | 256 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 284 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Souhegan Site 8 Dam.
Boat launches
- Zephyr Lake Boat Launch
- Bailey Pond Boat Launch
- Cunningham Pond Boat Launch
- Melendy Pond Boat Launch
- Contoocook River (Powder Mill Pond) Boat Launch
- Ferrin Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Camp Wanocksett
- Mt Monadnock State Park Campground
- Damon Pond Campground
- Pearl Hill Campground
- Mile-Away Campground
- Lake Dennison State Park
Track Souhegan Site 8 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 Souhegan Site 8 Dam
Where does the data for Souhegan Site 8 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 Souhegan Site 8 Dam.