Seaver Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, built in 1924. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 30 ft30 ft tall and 300 ft long, taller than 68% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Seaver Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Seaver Reservoir 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 Minnewawa Brook near Harrisville.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 39 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 495 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1924, 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 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 10/28/2021.
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 | Cheshire |
| Nearest City | Harrisville |
| River/Stream | Minnewawa Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.94261, -72.13012 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1924 (102 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 495 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 495 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 309 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 39 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,544 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Nh Des Water Division |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/28/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00094 |
| Federal ID | NH00094 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |