USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

01078000 SMITH RIVER NEAR BRISTOL, NH

LOCATION - Lat 43°33'59", long 71°44'54" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, Merrimack County, NH, Hydrologic Unit 01070001, on right bank, 0.6 mi upstream of Borough Road bridge, 1.5 mi upstream from mouth, 1.7 mi southwest of Post Office in Bristol, NH and 3.8 mi northwest of Hill, NH.

DRAINAGE AREA - 85.8 mi².

REVISIONS HISTORY - WSP 711: Drainage area. WSP 781: 1934. WSP 1231: 1919, 1920-21(M), 1922-31, 1932-33(M), 1941-43.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - Discharge: May 1918 to current year.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 449.42 ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (levels by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). Prior to November 25, 1933, nonrecording gage at site 1.5 mi upstream at different datum.

COOPERATION - USGS Federal Priority Streamgage Program.

REMARKS -

WATER YEARS 2014-2017: Records good except those for estimated discharges, which are fair.

WATER YEAR 2018: Records good except those for estimated discharges, which are fair, and those for the period of March 17-19, which are poor.

WATER YEARS 2019-2022: Records good except those for estimated discharges, which are poor.

WATER YEAR 2023: Records good except those for December 27 to September 30, which are fair, and those for estimated discharges, which are poor.

Prior to 1954, some diurnal fluctuation caused by small mill upstream; greater fluctuation prior to 1941.

EXTREMES OUTSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum stage since at least 1885, that of March 19, 1936.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum discharge, 8,100 ft³/s, March 19, 1936, from rating extended above 2,700 ft³/s on basis of contracted opening measurement of peak flow, gage height 16.09 ft, from floodmarks; minimum discharge, 2.7 ft³/s, August 2, 1933.

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - July 2022 to current year.

INSTRUMENTATION - Water-temperature recorder since July 21, 2022 provides continuous recordings.

REMARKS - Water Year 2022: Records good.