Echo Lake Dam dam
Echo Lake Dam
Echo Lake Dam in Franconia, New Hampshire, is a state-owned earth dam completed in 1990 primarily for recreational purposes. Situated on Lafayette Brook in Grafton County, this dam stands at a height of 7.3 feet and has a storage capacity of 725 acre-feet. With a surface area of 38 acres and a drainage area of 0.67 square miles, Echo Lake Dam plays a crucial role in providing water resources for the surrounding area while also offering recreational opportunities for visitors.
Managed by the NHDES Dam Bureau, Echo Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and is in satisfactory condition as per the last assessment conducted in 2013. Despite being a state-regulated structure, this dam does not have a spillway and has not experienced any major modifications in recent years. The risk assessment for Echo Lake Dam indicates a high risk level, emphasizing the importance of implementing effective risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam.
This dam, located in the picturesque setting of Franconia, serves as a vital infrastructure for water resource management and recreational activities in the region. With its strategic location and functional design, Echo Lake Dam stands as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of water conservation efforts and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Echo Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ammonoosuc River At Bethlehem Junction | 267 cfs | → |
| East Branch Pemigewasset River At Lincoln | 465 cfs | → |
| Pemigewasset River At Woodstock | 687 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River Near Dalton | 3,330 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At Wells River | 4,490 cfs | → |
| Wells River At Wells River | 207 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Echo Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Echo Lake Boat Launch
- Forest Lake Boat Launch
- Lyman Road Lyman
- Burns Pond Boat Launch
- Partridge Lake Boat Launch
- Old Waterford Road Littleton
Campgrounds
- Cannon Mountain Rv Park
- Coppermine Shelter
- Lafayette - Franconia Notch State Park
- Fransted Campground
- Kinsman Pond Shelter
- Kinsman Pond Tentsite
Track Echo 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 Echo Lake Dam
Where does the data for Echo 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 Echo Lake Dam.