Massabesic Lake Dam dam
Massabesic Lake Dam
Massabesic Lake Dam, located in Manchester, New Hampshire, serves as a vital structure for water supply purposes. Completed in 1873, this concrete dam stands at a height of 27 feet with a length of 500 feet, holding a maximum storage capacity of 16,580 acre-feet and a normal storage of 2,694 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is to regulate the flow of Cohas Brook and provide water resources for the surrounding area.
Despite its historical significance, Massabesic Lake Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, with the last inspection conducted in August 2020. With a moderate risk rating, the dam is under the regulatory oversight of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau. It is crucial for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor the maintenance and management of Massabesic Lake Dam to ensure its continued effectiveness in water supply and to mitigate potential risks associated with its structural integrity.
The dam's location within the Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, highlights its importance in the local water infrastructure. With a spillway width of 90 feet and a drainage area of 47 square miles, Massabesic Lake Dam plays a critical role in managing water resources and protecting the surrounding community from potential flooding events. As efforts continue to assess and address its condition and safety measures, Massabesic Lake Dam remains a focal point for water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
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 Massabesic Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Merrimack R Nr Goffs Falls | 8,350 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 137 cfs | → |
| Souhegan River At Merrimack | 235 cfs | → |
| Spicket River At North Salem | 0 cfs | → |
| Beaver Brook At North Pelham | 31 cfs | → |
| South Branch Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 127 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Massabesic Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Massabesic Lake Boat Launch
- Heritage Trail Bedford
- Scobie Pond Boat Launch
- Beaver Lake Boat Launch
- Kendall Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
- Remote Campsite
- Saddleback Campground
- Camp Spaulding
- Mile-Away Campground
- Grotonwood
Paddle runs
Track Massabesic 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 Massabesic Lake Dam
Where does the data for Massabesic 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 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 Massabesic Lake Dam.