Sunapee Lake Dam is a concrete dam located in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, built in 1872. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 14 ft14 ft tall and 80 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Sunapee Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Sunapee 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 Sugar River near Sunapee.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 80 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4,090 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 40,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 44 square miles. Completed in 1872, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/27/2020.
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Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Sullivan |
| Nearest City | Sunapee |
| River/Stream | Sugar River |
| Coordinates | 43.38520, -72.08190 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 80 ft |
| Year Completed | 1872 (154 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 40,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 40,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 19,800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4,090 acres |
| Drainage Area | 44 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,285 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Nh Des Water Division |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 10/27/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00108 |
| Federal ID | NH00108 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |