Durham Reservoir Dam dam
Durham Reservoir Dam
Durham Reservoir Dam, located in Durham, New Hampshire, is a state-owned structure regulated by the NHDES Dam Bureau. Built in 1935, this earth dam stands at 17 feet high and spans 300 feet in length, providing recreational opportunities for visitors in the area. The dam holds a storage capacity of 129 acre-feet and serves as a vital component for managing the flow of TR Beards Creek.
Despite its age, the dam is assessed to be in satisfactory condition with a high hazard potential. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last one dated in August 2020. The dam's emergency action plan is under review to ensure it meets current guidelines. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the Durham Reservoir Dam remains a key infrastructure piece in the region's water resource management, highlighting the importance of ongoing maintenance and risk management measures to safeguard its integrity and surrounding community.
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 Durham Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Oyster River Near Durham | 13 cfs | → |
| Lamprey River Near Newmarket | 137 cfs | → |
| Isinglass R At Rochester Neck Rd | 66 cfs | → |
| Winnicut River At Greenland | 22 cfs | → |
| Cocheco River Near Rochester | 117 cfs | → |
| Exeter River At Haigh Road | 57 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Durham Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Oyster River Boat Launch
- Piscassic River Boat Launch
- Lamprey River Boat Launch
- Great Bay Boat Launch
- Cathy Schiro O'Brien Cross Country Running Trail Dover
- Piscataqua River Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Old Stage Campground
- Remote Campsite
- Saddleback Campground
- Tidewater Campground
- Salisbury State Park Reservation
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
Paddle runs
Track Durham Reservoir 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 Durham Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Durham Reservoir 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 Durham Reservoir Dam.