Souhegan River Site 19 Dam dam
Souhegan River Site 19 Dam
Souhegan River Site 19 Dam, also known as Ashburnham Road Dam, is a state-owned structure located in New Ipswich, New Hampshire. Completed in 1962, this earth dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the South Branch Souhegan River. With a height of 35.5 feet and a length of 1250 feet, it provides storage of 2072 acre-feet of water, with a normal storage capacity of 85.3 acre-feet.
Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, Souhegan River Site 19 Dam is in fair condition as of the last assessment in April 2018. The dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau. With a maximum discharge capacity of 16463 cubic feet per second, it plays a crucial role in managing water levels and mitigating flood risks in the area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Souhegan River Site 19 Dam represents a significant infrastructure for flood risk reduction along the South Branch Souhegan River. Its history, design, and operational details make it a compelling case study in dam management and the intersection of water resource management and climate adaptation strategies.
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 19 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Nashua River At Fitchburg | 101 cfs | → |
| Souhegan River (Site Wlr-1) Near Milford | 181 cfs | → |
| Contoocook River At Peterborough | 118 cfs | → |
| Squannacook River Near West Groton | 83 cfs | → |
| Millers River Near Winchendon | 121 cfs | → |
| Otter River At Otter River | 105 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Souhegan River Site 19 Dam.
Boat launches
- Grassy Pond Boat Launch
- Cunningham Pond Boat Launch
- Contoocook Lake Boat Launch
- Melendy Pond Boat Launch
- Pool Pond Boat Launch
- Whalom Lake Public Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Damon Pond Campground
- Pearl Hill Campground
- Lake Dennison State Park
- East Dennison Camping Area
- North Dennison Camping Area
- Otter River State Forest
Track Souhegan River Site 19 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 19 Dam
Where does the data for Souhegan River Site 19 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 19 Dam.