Rice Reservoir Dam
Rice Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, built in 1935. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Rice Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Rice Reservoir Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Claremont (local government). It impounds the Stevens Brook near Claremont.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 980 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 153 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1935, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/03/2021.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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 | Sullivan |
| Nearest City | Claremont |
| River/Stream | Stevens Brook |
| Coordinates | 43.41990, -72.32880 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 980 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 153 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 153 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 117 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 237 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF CLAREMONT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/03/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00141 |
| Federal ID | NH00141 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |