1:34 p.m.

Across the state, floodwaters were largely receding despite today’s intermittent rains, according to dozens of local and state officials.

Jim Gallagher, the head of the dam bureau at the Department of Environmental Services, said that he’s seen conditions improving around the state.

The area of chief concern remains the Salmon Falls River, in the east of the state, he said, but “that threat is being reduced as we speak.”

Locally, the dam on Highland Lake in Andover is a top concern, Gallagher said. If that dam breaks, officials have said, the water would flow into Franklin’s already-high Webster Lake and threaten about two dozen homes.

Sinkholes formed in the dam last night, and firefighters had to lay blankets of sandbags to cover them, he said. But water levels have receded about 6 inches since last night, he said, and the situation has “stabilized.”

“It’s still a concern, but right now the water is receding,” said Andover Fire Chief John Landry.

Officials in Bristol also remain concerned about two dams on the Newfound River. The water levels on the river have risen since yesterday, according to Fire Capt. Mark Chevalier, and a voluntary evacuation remains in effect for much of the downtown area.

Around the area, officials reported pumping out basements and fixing roads, but seeing generally improved conditions.

“A lot of towns a lot worse than we are, we’re down to pumping out a few basements here and there, so we’re doing pretty good,” said Loudon Fire Chief Jeff Burr.

-Staff writer Lauren Dorgan