Israel River dam
Israel River
The Israel River in Coos, New Hampshire, is a Federal-owned dam designed for flood risk reduction. Constructed in 1981, this concrete dam stands at a height of 22 feet and spans 240 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 52 acre-feet, the dam serves a critical purpose in mitigating flood risks in the region, particularly for the surrounding areas in Lancaster.
Managed by the NHDES Dam Bureau, the Israel River dam has a low hazard potential but has been assessed as unsatisfactory in condition. Despite this, the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam's spillway, with a width of 160 feet, is uncontrolled, allowing for the release of excess water during times of high discharge.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Israel River dam presents an intriguing case study in dam infrastructure and flood risk management. With its strategic location in a high-risk area, the dam plays a crucial role in protecting the local community from potential flooding events. Continued inspection and maintenance efforts will be essential to ensure the dam's effectiveness in the face of changing climate conditions and increasing water resource challenges.
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 Israel River -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut River Near Dalton | 3,750 cfs | → |
| Upper Ammonoosuc River Near Groveton | 617 cfs | → |
| Moose River At Victory | 204 cfs | → |
| Ammonoosuc River At Bethlehem Junction | 311 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At North Stratford | 1,740 cfs | → |
| Androscoggin River Near Gorham | 4,290 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Israel River.
Boat launches
- Bridge Street Guildhall
- Martin Meadow Pond Boat Launch
- Vermont Fish And Game Boat Lau Lunenburg
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Burns Pond Boat Launch
- Forest Lake Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Mt Cabot Cabin
- Unknown Pond Tentsite
- Unknown Pond Campsite
- Rogers Ledge Campsite
- Maidstone State Park
- Camping Sauvage White Mountains
Track Israel River 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 Israel River
Where does the data for Israel River 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 Israel River.