Oyster Reservoir Dam dam
Oyster Reservoir Dam
Oyster Reservoir Dam, located in Durham, New Hampshire, is a concrete buttress dam completed in 1934 primarily for water supply purposes. With a height of 21 feet and a length of 180 feet, the dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 208 acre-feet and a normal storage of 172 acre-feet. The dam's reservoir covers a surface area of 6.9 acres and drains a 16.8 square mile watershed, with a maximum discharge capacity of 4997 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the NHDES Dam Bureau, Oyster Reservoir Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the State of New Hampshire. The dam has a significant hazard potential, assessed as fair in condition, with the last inspection conducted in July 2018. The dam's spillway, classified as uncontrolled, has a width of 100 feet, and there are no associated locks for navigation. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, with measures in place for risk management.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Oyster Reservoir Dam presents a fascinating case study in dam construction and management. Its strategic location on the Oyster River ensures a reliable water supply for the region while also posing challenges in terms of hazard potential and risk assessment. As a key piece of infrastructure in New Hampshire, the dam highlights the importance of effective regulation, inspection, and emergency preparedness to ensure the safety and sustainability of water resources 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 Oyster Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Oyster River Near Durham | 13 cfs | → |
| Lamprey River Near Newmarket | 137 cfs | → |
| Isinglass R At Rochester Neck Rd | 66 cfs | → |
| Winnicut River At Greenland | 22 cfs | → |
| Cocheco River Near Rochester | 117 cfs | → |
| Exeter River At Haigh Road | 57 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oyster Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Oyster River Boat Launch
- Piscassic River Boat Launch
- Lamprey River Boat Launch
- Great Bay Boat Launch
- Piscataqua River Boat Launch
- Cathy Schiro O'Brien Cross Country Running Trail Dover
Campgrounds
- Old Stage Campground
- Remote Campsite
- Saddleback Campground
- Tidewater Campground
- Salisbury State Park Reservation
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
Paddle runs
Track Oyster 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 Oyster Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Oyster 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 Significant 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 Oyster Reservoir Dam.