Otter Pond Dam dam
Otter Pond Dam
Otter Pond Dam in Sunapee, New Hampshire, stands as a critical structure managing the flow of Otter Pond Brook. Completed in 1935, this Earth dam serves primarily for recreation purposes, offering a serene escape for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With a height of 8 feet and a length of 70 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 832 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 168 acres, ensuring a peaceful retreat for visitors to enjoy.
Managed by the NHDES Dam Bureau, Otter Pond Dam is regulated by the state and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam poses a moderate risk, warranting attention to potential management measures. While its current condition is not rated, the dam's emergency action plan status remains unclear, highlighting the need for further preparedness and risk assessment to safeguard the surrounding community and environment in case of any unforeseen events.
Overall, Otter Pond Dam offers a valuable recreational space while also serving as a vital component of the water resource infrastructure in the Sullivan County region. With its serene surroundings and regulated maintenance, the dam stands as a testament to responsible water management and environmental stewardship, drawing in water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to appreciate the beauty of Otter Pond Brook and its surrounding natural habitat.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Otter Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar River At West Claremont | 431 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Bristol | 180 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River At North Hartland | 394 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At West Lebanon | 6,790 cfs | → |
| Merrimack River At Franklin Junction | 5,420 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Webster | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Otter Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Perkins Pond Boat Launch
- Lake Coniston (Long Pond) Boat Launch
- Sunapee Lake Boat Launch
- Lake Avenue 51, Newbury
- Pleasant Lake Boat Launch
- Mcdaniels Marsh Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Camp Wilmot
- Northstar Campground
- Clark Brook Campsite
- Mt. Ascutney State Park
- Cardigan Campsites
- Ascutney Mt Stone Hut
Paddle runs
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- Thornton Railroad Bridge To Bridgewater/Bristol Town Line
- Headwaters To Crossing Of Route 100 Near Route 155
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
- Headwaters To Woodstock, Vt
Track Otter Pond Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Otter Pond Dam
Where does the data for Otter Pond Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Otter Pond Dam.