Melvin River Dam
Melvin River Dam is a concrete dam located in Carroll County, New Hampshire, built in 1930. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Melvin River Dam
The primary purpose of Melvin River Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nh Fish And Game Department (state). It impounds the Melvin River near Tuftonboro.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 33 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1930, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 10/26/2022.
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Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Carroll |
| Nearest City | Tuftonboro |
| River/Stream | Melvin River |
| Coordinates | 43.68984, -71.30360 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 33 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 33 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 30 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | NH FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00887 |
| Federal ID | NH00887 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |