Suncook Lake Dam
Suncook Lake Dam is a concrete dam located in Belknap County, New Hampshire, built in 1882. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Suncook Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Suncook Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nh Des Water Division (state). It impounds the Suncook River near Barnstead.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 180 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 724 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 54 square miles. Completed in 1882, the structure is over a century old.
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 07/14/2021.
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 | Belknap |
| Nearest City | Barnstead |
| River/Stream | Suncook River |
| Coordinates | 43.35976, -71.26611 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 180 ft |
| Year Completed | 1882 (144 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 724 acres |
| Drainage Area | 54 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,530 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | NH DES WATER DIVISION |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/14/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00013 |
| Federal ID | NH00013 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |