Meadow Lake Dam dam
Meadow Lake Dam
Meadow Lake Dam, also known as M.E. Burtt, is a state-owned structure located in Northwood, New Hampshire. Built in 1975 by USDA NRCS, this earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a tranquil setting for water enthusiasts to enjoy. The dam stands at a height of 14 feet and spans 200 feet in length, with a maximum storage capacity of 105 acre-feet.
Despite its low hazard potential, Meadow Lake Dam has been assessed as being in poor condition, signaling a need for maintenance and improvement. The dam is regulated by the NHDES Dam Bureau and undergoes regular state inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. The surrounding area, including the Lamprey River, benefits from the dam's water management capabilities, which help to mitigate flooding and control the flow of water.
While Meadow Lake Dam poses a moderate risk due to its current condition, the structure continues to play a vital role in water resource management and recreation in the region. With ongoing oversight and potential upgrades, this dam will likely continue to provide valuable benefits to the community and environment for years to come.
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 Meadow Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Suncook River At North Chichester | 221 cfs | → |
| Cocheco River Near Rochester | 97 cfs | → |
| Oyster River Near Durham | 11 cfs | → |
| Isinglass R At Rochester Neck Rd | 53 cfs | → |
| Soucook River | 22 cfs | → |
| Lamprey River Near Newmarket | 119 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Meadow Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Northwood Lake Boat Launch
- Pleasant Lake Boat Launch
- Jenness Pond Boat Launch
- Chestnut Pond Boat Launch
- Canaan Back Road Barrington
- Pawtuckaway Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Saddleback Campground
- Remote Campsite
- Old Stage Campground
- Camp Spaulding
- Green Tops Campground
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
Track Meadow 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 Meadow Lake Dam
Where does the data for Meadow 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 Meadow Lake Dam.