Beards Creek Dam
Beards Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Strafford County, New Hampshire, built in 1953. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Beards Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Beards Creek Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nh Dot (state). It impounds the Beards Creek near Durham.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 175 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1953, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 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 06/02/2021.
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Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Strafford |
| Nearest City | Durham |
| River/Stream | Beards Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.13540, -70.91410 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 175 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 175 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 39 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,130 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | NH DOT |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/02/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00970 |
| Federal ID | NH00970 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |