Souhegan River Site 26 Dam dam
Souhegan River Site 26 Dam
Souhegan River Site 26 Dam, also known as Timberdoodle, is a state-owned structure located in Temple, New Hampshire. Constructed in 1965 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 79 feet and spans 675 feet along Blood Brook. The primary purpose of the dam is flood risk reduction, with a storage capacity of 1486 acre-feet and a drainage area of 5.03 square miles.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of April 2018, Souhegan River Site 26 Dam has a high hazard potential due to its location and design. The dam is regulated by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau and undergoes state inspections every two years. With a moderate risk assessment score of 3, the dam poses a potential threat that requires ongoing monitoring and management measures to ensure public safety.
The dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled and 3 feet wide, has a maximum discharge capacity of 12544 cubic feet per second. Given its critical role in flood control, the dam's risk management strategies and emergency action plans are essential components of its operation. Enthusiasts of water resource management and climate adaptation will find Souhegan River Site 26 Dam to be a fascinating case study in dam safety and the intersection of human infrastructure with natural water systems.
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 Souhegan River Site 26 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Souhegan River (Site Wlr-1) Near Milford | 181 cfs | → |
| Contoocook River At Peterborough | 118 cfs | → |
| Nubanusit Bk Blw Macdowell Dam Nr Peterborough Nh | 31 cfs | → |
| South Branch Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 143 cfs | → |
| Souhegan River At Merrimack | 256 cfs | → |
| Millers River Near Winchendon | 121 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Souhegan River Site 26 Dam.
Boat launches
- Cunningham Pond Boat Launch
- Zephyr Lake Boat Launch
- Macdowell Reservoir Boat Launch
- Contoocook River (Powder Mill Pond) Boat Launch
- Frost Pond Boat Launch
- Grassy Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Camp Wanocksett
- Mt Monadnock State Park Campground
- Damon Pond Campground
- Pearl Hill Campground
- Lake Dennison State Park
- East Dennison Camping Area
Track Souhegan River Site 26 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 Souhegan River Site 26 Dam
Where does the data for Souhegan River Site 26 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 Souhegan River Site 26 Dam.