Swanzey Lake Dam
Swanzey Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, built in 1790. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Swanzey Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Swanzey 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 Swanzey (local government). It impounds the Tr Perry Brook near Swanzey.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 111 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 641 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1790, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 06/02/2022.
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 | Swanzey |
| River/Stream | Tr Perry Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.83647, -72.30369 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1790 (236 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 641 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 641 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 348 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 111 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 545 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | TOWN OF SWANZEY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/02/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00205 |
| Federal ID | NH00205 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |