Swains Lake Dam
Swains Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Strafford County, New Hampshire, built in 1890. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Swains Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Swains Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Barrington (local government). It impounds the Bellamy River near Barrington.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 433 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 418 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,558 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1890, 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 07/30/2021.
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 | Strafford |
| Nearest City | Barrington |
| River/Stream | Bellamy River |
| Coordinates | 43.18797, -71.02452 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 433 ft |
| Year Completed | 1890 (136 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,558 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,558 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,798 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 418 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 357 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | TOWN OF BARRINGTON |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/30/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00232 |
| Federal ID | NH00232 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |