Sunrise Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Strafford County, New Hampshire, built in 1877. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 19 ft19 ft tall and 665 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Sunrise Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Sunrise Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Sunrise Lake Village District Commission (local government). It impounds the Tr Cocheco River near Middleton.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 665 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 257 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,790 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1877, 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 11/02/2021.
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 | Middleton |
| River/Stream | Tr Cocheco River |
| Coordinates | 43.45110, -71.08110 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 665 ft |
| Year Completed | 1877 (149 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,790 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,790 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,120 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 257 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Sunrise Lake Village District Commission |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/02/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00310 |
| Federal ID | NH00310 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |