Goldman Dam dam
Goldman Dam
Goldman Dam, located in Milford, New Hampshire, is a private-owned concrete structure completed in 1935 with a primary purpose of recreation. Sitting on the Souhegan River, the dam stands at a height of 12 feet and stretches 180 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 112 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam is regulated and inspected by the NHDES Dam Bureau, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its modest size, Goldman Dam offers a significant recreational area with a surface area of 8 acres for visitors to enjoy. Its uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 173 feet, can handle a maximum discharge of 7,364 cubic feet per second. The dam's risk assessment is rated as moderate, indicating a level of caution in its management and maintenance. Its last inspection in November 2018 showed a hazard potential of low, reflecting the stability and security of the structure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Goldman Dam presents a unique opportunity to observe a well-maintained concrete dam in a picturesque setting along the Souhegan River. With its historic significance dating back to the 1930s and its role in providing recreational activities for the community, the dam serves as a valuable asset in the region. As a state-regulated and inspected structure, Goldman Dam is a testament to responsible water management and the importance of maintaining infrastructure for both safety and enjoyment.
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 Goldman Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Souhegan River (Site Wlr-1) Near Milford | 181 cfs | → |
| Souhegan River At Merrimack | 256 cfs | → |
| Merrimack R Nr Goffs Falls | 9,610 cfs | → |
| Nashua River At East Pepperell | 531 cfs | → |
| South Branch Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 143 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 284 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Goldman Dam.
Boat launches
- Melendy Pond Boat Launch
- Naticook Lake Boat Launch
- Flints Pond Boat Launch
- Bailey Pond Boat Launch
- Winchester Street Boat Launch
- Greeley Ramp Road Nashua
Campgrounds
- Pearl Hill Campground
- Damon Pond Campground
- Grotonwood
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
- Camp Wanocksett
- Mt Monadnock State Park Campground
Paddle runs
Track Goldman 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 Goldman Dam
Where does the data for Goldman 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 Goldman Dam.