Souhegan Site 14 Dam
Souhegan Site 14 Dam is an earth dam located in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, built in 1836. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Souhegan Site 14 Dam
The primary purpose of Souhegan Site 14 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 Furnace Brook near New Ipswich.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 1,510 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 885 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1836, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 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 04/07/2022.
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 | Hillsborough |
| Nearest City | New Ipswich |
| River/Stream | Furnace Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.76470, -71.85970 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,510 ft |
| Year Completed | 1836 (190 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 885 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 885 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 23 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,700 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | NH DES WATER DIVISION |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/07/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00433 |
| Federal ID | NH00433 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |