Pearl Lake Dam dam
Pearl Lake Dam
Located in Lisbon, New Hampshire, Pearl Lake Dam is a picturesque earth dam completed in 1935 for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 9.5 feet with a length of 70 feet, this dam holds a storage capacity of 552 acre-feet, making it a popular spot for water enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is currently in poor condition and is regulated by the NHDES Dam Bureau.
The dam, situated on the Pearl Lake stream, has a drainage area of 5.6 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 72 acre-feet. With a maximum discharge of 1076 cubic feet per second, the dam serves as a vital water resource in the region. Although the risk assessment categorizes it as moderate, the dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures are currently not updated, highlighting the need for improved maintenance and oversight to ensure its long-term safety and sustainability.
In the heart of Grafton County, Pearl Lake Dam not only provides a serene escape for visitors seeking recreational activities but also plays a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts in the area. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the proper maintenance and regulation of this dam are essential to safeguarding the surrounding ecosystem and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
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 Pearl Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut River At Wells River | 4,490 cfs | → |
| Wells River At Wells River | 207 cfs | → |
| Ammonoosuc River At Bethlehem Junction | 267 cfs | → |
| Passumpsic River At Passumpsic | 942 cfs | → |
| East Branch Pemigewasset River At Lincoln | 465 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River Near Dalton | 3,330 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pearl Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lyman Road Lyman
- Partridge Lake Boat Launch
- French Pond Boat Launch
- Echo Lake Boat Launch
- Old Waterford Road Littleton
- Perkins Landing Road Littleton
Campgrounds
- Fransted Campground
- Coppermine Shelter
- Kinsman Pond Shelter
- Kinsman Pond Tentsite
- Crazy Horse Family Campground
- Cannon Mountain Rv Park
Paddle runs
- Headwaters At Profile Lake To Southern Boundary Of Franconia Notch State Park
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
- Thornton Railroad Bridge To Bridgewater/Bristol Town Line
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
Track Pearl 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 Pearl Lake Dam
Where does the data for Pearl 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 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 Pearl Lake Dam.