Baker River Site 5 Dam
Baker River Site 5 Dam is an earth dam located in Grafton County, New Hampshire, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Baker River Site 5 Dam
The primary purpose of Baker River Site 5 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 Swain Brook near Wentworth.
The dam stands 53 feet tall and stretches 807 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 950 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 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 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 05/05/2022.
At 53 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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 | Wentworth |
| River/Stream | Swain Brook |
| Coordinates | 43.88410, -71.91270 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Length | 807 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 950 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 950 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 39 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,290 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | NH DES WATER DIVISION |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/05/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00245 |
| Federal ID | NH00245 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |