Baker River Site 8 Dam
Baker River Site 8 Dam is an earth dam located in Grafton County, New Hampshire, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Baker River Site 8 Dam
The primary purpose of Baker River Site 8 Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Nh Des Water Division (state). It impounds the South Branch Baker River near Dorchester.
The dam stands 63 feet tall and stretches 1,462 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,750 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1967, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 10/21/2022.
At 63 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Grafton |
| Nearest City | Dorchester |
| River/Stream | South Branch Baker River |
| Coordinates | 43.77500, -71.91580 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 63 ft |
| Dam Height | 63 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,462 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,750 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,750 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 143 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 17,315 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | NH DES WATER DIVISION |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/21/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00178 |
| Federal ID | NH00178 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |