York dam
York
Located in Boscawen, New Hampshire, the York Dam, also known as Contoocook Park Dam, is a state-owned structure regulating the flow of the Contoocook River. Built in 1967 for hydroelectric purposes, this concrete gravity dam stands at 10 feet tall and spans 230 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 500 acre-feet, it serves as a crucial component of the region's water resource management system.
Managed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau and regulated by both state and federal agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the York Dam plays a vital role in ensuring safe and efficient water flow and storage. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam is subject to regular inspections and monitoring to maintain its structural integrity and operational effectiveness. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, highlighting the importance of continued oversight and maintenance to mitigate potential risks.
In the event of an emergency, the dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 170 feet to manage excess water flow. While the condition assessment of the dam is currently not available, emergency action plans have been prepared and updated in accordance with guidelines. Overall, the York Dam stands as a key infrastructure asset in the region's water resource management efforts, providing both hydroelectric power generation and flood control benefits to the surrounding communities.
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 York -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackwater River Near Webster | 19 cfs | → |
| Warner River At Davisville | 348 cfs | → |
| Soucook River | 22 cfs | → |
| Contoocook R Bl Hopkinton Dam At W Hopkinton | 758 cfs | → |
| Merrimack River At Franklin Junction | 4,850 cfs | → |
| Winnipesaukee River At Tilton | 1,610 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near York .
Boat launches
- Contoocook River Boat Launch
- Merrimack River Boat Launch
- Hoit Road Marsh Boat Launch
- Turtle Pond Boat Launch
- Hot Hole Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Camp Spaulding
- Mile-Away Campground
- Camp Wilmot
- Saddleback Campground
- Remote Campsite
- Green Tops Campground
Track York 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 York
Where does the data for York 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 York .