Lovell Lake Dam
Lovell Lake Dam is a concrete dam located in Carroll County, New Hampshire, built in 1910. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lovell Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Lovell 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 Branch River near Wakefield.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 260 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 530 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1910, 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 04/25/2022.
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 | Carroll |
| Nearest City | Wakefield |
| River/Stream | Branch River |
| Coordinates | 43.55250, -71.02580 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 260 ft |
| Year Completed | 1910 (116 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,750 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 530 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,629 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | NH DES WATER DIVISION |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/25/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00223 |
| Federal ID | NH00223 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |