Exeter River Dam

Exeter River Dam is a concrete dam located in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, built in 1927. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.

About Exeter River Dam

The primary purpose of Exeter River Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Brentwood Dam Ventures Llc (private). It impounds the Exeter River near Brentwood.

The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 130 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 296 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 60 square miles. Completed in 1927, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 05/26/2021.

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Significant HazardPoor ConditionEmergency Action Plan: No

Location

StateNew Hampshire
CountyRockingham
Nearest CityBrentwood
River/StreamExeter River
Coordinates42.96942, -71.08509

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeConcrete
NID Height15 ft
Dam Height15 ft
Dam Length130 ft
Year Completed1927 (99 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage296 acre-ft
Max Storage296 acre-ft
Normal Storage72 acre-ft
Surface Area16 acres
Drainage Area60 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerBRENTWOOD DAM VENTURES LLC
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentPoor
Last Inspection05/26/2021
Emergency Action PlanNo

Identifiers

NID IDNH00293
Federal IDNH00293
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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