Warren Lake Dam
Warren Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, built in 1771. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Warren Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Warren Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Alstead (local government). It impounds the Warren Brook near Alstead.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 170 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 200 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,739 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1771, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/04/2021.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The New Hampshire dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Cheshire |
| Nearest City | Alstead |
| River/Stream | Warren Brook |
| Coordinates | 43.12216, -72.29749 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 170 ft |
| Year Completed | 1771 (255 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,739 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,739 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 501 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 200 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 395 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | TOWN OF ALSTEAD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/04/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00008 |
| Federal ID | NH00008 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |