Hermit Lake Dam

Hermit Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Belknap County, New Hampshire, built in 1927. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Hermit Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Hermit 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 Salmon Brook near Sanbornton.

The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 1,320 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 220 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,892 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1927, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 04/19/2021.

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Low HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateNew Hampshire
CountyBelknap
Nearest CitySanbornton
River/StreamSalmon Brook
Coordinates43.55520, -71.60750

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height20 ft
Dam Height20 ft
Dam Length1,320 ft
Year Completed1927 (99 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage1,892 acre-ft
Max Storage1,892 acre-ft
Normal Storage1,233 acre-ft
Surface Area220 acres
Drainage Area5 sq mi
Max Discharge3,343 cfs

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerNH DES WATER DIVISION
Owner TypeState
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection04/19/2021
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDNH00033
Federal IDNH00033
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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