Press Release: 8/4/2026
USACE to host open house Aug. 27 in Webster for Blackwater Dam master plan revision
Published Aug. 3, 2026
CONCORD, Mass. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New England District will host an open house Aug. 27, 2026, in Webster, New Hampshire, from 4 to 6 p.m., to share details on draft revisions of the Blackwater Dam Master Plan.
The open house will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Webster Town Hall in Webster, New Hampshire. During the session, there will be no formal presentation. The public is invited to visit at any point to interact with USACE team members. The open house will cover the proposed changes to the current master plans. Team members will share instructions on how to submit comments and provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions and provide feedback. A 30-day public comment period will begin Aug. 27, 2026, and end Sept. 27, 2026.
Master Plan Overview
A master plan is defined as the strategic land use management document that guides the comprehensive management and development of all recreational, natural and cultural resources throughout the life of the water resource development project. It defines how USACE will manage the resources for public use and conservation.
The current Blackwater Dam Master Plan needs revision to address changes in regional land use, population, outdoor recreation trends and USACE management policy. Key topics to be discussed in the revised master plans include revised land use classifications, new natural and recreational resource management objectives, recreation facility needs and special issues such as invasive species management and threatened and endangered species habitat. The master plan revisions will not address the technical and operational aspects of the lake related to flood risk management or the water conservation missions of the project.
Submitting Comments and Reviewing Draft Plans
Comments must be submitted in writing at the open house or digitally via the comment form on the master plans webpage. The 30-day public comment period begins Aug. 27, 2026, and ends Sept. 27, 2026.
The webpage can be found at https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/missions/recreation/blackwater-dam/blackwater-dam-master-plan/.
During the 30-day public comment period, comments can also be emailed to BlackwaterDam@usace.army.mil.
On Aug. 27, the website will also feature digital copies of the draft master plan, environmental assessment and associated documents, a comment form with instructions and a downloadable presentation covering the topics highlighted in the open house.
About Blackwater Dam
Blackwater Dam in Webster and Salisbury, New Hampshire, is located in the upper Merrimack River Basin. This is a multipurpose project built and maintained by the USACE New England District. Congress authorized the dam for flood risk management in 1938.
While the main purpose of Blackwater Dam is to provide flood risk management to the Merrimack River Basin, over the years the project has become known for its recreational opportunities such as fishing, hunting, horseback riding and snowmobiling. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the natural resources at Blackwater Dam for multiple uses: flood risk management, wildlife habitat, forestry, watershed protection and outdoor recreation. Blackwater Dam receives approximately 23,000 visits per year.
Contact
Troy D. Darr
troy.d.darr@usace.army.mil