Baxter Lake Main Dam
Baxter Lake Main Dam is an earth dam located in Strafford County, New Hampshire, built in 1923. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Baxter Lake Main Dam
The primary purpose of Baxter Lake Main Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Baxter Lake Flowage Association (private). It impounds the Rickers Brook near Rochester.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 175 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 288 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,432 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1923, the structure is over a century old.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/27/2020.
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Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Strafford |
| Nearest City | Rochester |
| River/Stream | Rickers Brook |
| Coordinates | 43.32130, -71.04330 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 175 ft |
| Year Completed | 1923 (103 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,432 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,432 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,190 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 288 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,156 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | BAXTER LAKE FLOWAGE ASSOCIATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/27/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00394 |
| Federal ID | NH00394 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |