Daniels Lake Dam dam
Daniels Lake Dam
Located in Weare, New Hampshire, the Daniels Lake Dam stands as a testament to both engineering and natural beauty. Completed in 1961, this concrete buttress dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a height of 12 feet and a length of 837 feet. The dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 199 acre-feet, with a normal storage of 116 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 52 acres and draining a 5.5 square mile watershed area.
Managed by the NHDES Dam Bureau, the dam has a state-regulated status with inspection, permitting, and enforcement in place. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is marked as poor, last assessed in April 2012. The spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 26 feet and a maximum discharge of 859 cubic feet per second. While the risk assessment is moderate, with a DSAC assigned date yet to be determined, the overall risk management measures and emergency preparedness remain unspecified.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Daniels Lake Dam represents a vital piece of New Hampshire's infrastructure, blending function with scenic beauty. With its connection to Otter Brook and a role in watershed management, the dam serves as a focal point for recreation while posing moderate risks that require ongoing monitoring and maintenance. As efforts continue to ensure the dam's safety and longevity, its role in the local ecosystem and community remains paramount.
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 Daniels Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Branch Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 127 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Bl Everett Dam | 8 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 137 cfs | → |
| Contoocook R Bl Hopkinton Dam At W Hopkinton | 758 cfs | → |
| Merrimack R Nr Goffs Falls | 8,350 cfs | → |
| Contoocook River Near Henniker | 580 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Daniels Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Gorham Pond Boat Launch
- Mount William Pond Boat Launch
- Bailey Pond Boat Launch
- Ferrin Pond Boat Launch
- Piscataquog River (Glen Lake) Boat Launch
- Kimball Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Mile-Away Campground
- Camp Spaulding
- Camp Wanocksett
- Mt Monadnock State Park Campground
- Fox Brook Tent Site
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
Track Daniels 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 Daniels Lake Dam
Where does the data for Daniels 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 Daniels Lake Dam.