Riverdale Dam dam
Riverdale Dam
Riverdale Dam, located in Weare, New Hampshire, is a concrete buttress dam on the Piscataquog River that serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Owned by the federal government, the dam is regulated by the NHDES Dam Bureau and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With a height of 10 feet and a length of 90 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 153 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 33.1 acres, contributing to the overall flood management efforts in the area.
Despite its low hazard potential, Riverdale Dam is classified as having a moderate risk level, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures. The dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, and the last inspection was conducted in October 2011, with a scheduled inspection frequency of every 6 years. While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, it is important for stakeholders and authorities to ensure that proper emergency contacts, inundation maps, and risk assessment guidelines are prepared and updated to mitigate any potential risks associated with the dam.
Overall, Riverdale Dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks along the Piscataquog River in New Hampshire. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to monitor and support the ongoing maintenance and management of the dam to ensure its continued effectiveness in protecting the surrounding communities and environment from potential flooding events.
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 Riverdale Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Branch Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 127 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Bl Everett Dam | 8 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 137 cfs | → |
| Merrimack R Nr Goffs Falls | 8,350 cfs | → |
| Contoocook R Bl Hopkinton Dam At W Hopkinton | 758 cfs | → |
| Souhegan River (Site Wlr-1) Near Milford | 168 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Riverdale Dam.
Boat launches
- Gorham Pond Boat Launch
- Piscataquog River (Glen Lake) Boat Launch
- Mount William Pond Boat Launch
- Kimball Pond Boat Launch
- Bailey Pond Boat Launch
- Ferrin Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Mile-Away Campground
- Camp Spaulding
- Camp Wanocksett
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
- Mt Monadnock State Park Campground
- Remote Campsite
Track Riverdale 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 Riverdale Dam
Where does the data for Riverdale 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 Riverdale Dam.