Copps Pond Dam dam
Copps Pond Dam
Copps Pond Dam is a state-owned structure located in Tuftonboro, New Hampshire, along Wingate Brook. Built in 1944, this earth dam stands at 16 feet high and stretches 200 feet in length, with a primary purpose of recreation. It has a storage capacity of 700 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 576 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 89 acres. The dam poses a significant hazard potential and has been assessed as being in poor condition.
Managed by the NHDES Dam Bureau, Copps Pond Dam is subject to state regulatory oversight, including permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 17 feet, capable of releasing a maximum discharge of 690 cubic feet per second. While the structure has not been modified in recent years and lacks an emergency action plan, its risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk (3), prompting the need for continued monitoring and potential risk management measures.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Copps Pond Dam offers a compelling case study in dam management and maintenance. With its recreational focus and historical significance, this dam serves as a vital component of the local ecosystem while posing challenges in terms of safety and structural integrity. As stakeholders work to address its poor condition and significant hazard potential, the ongoing management of Copps Pond Dam underscores the importance of effective risk assessment and proactive measures to ensure the safety and sustainability of water resources in New Hampshire's Carroll County.
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 Copps Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bearcamp River At South Tamworth | 164 cfs | → |
| Pemigewasset River At Plymouth | 1,690 cfs | → |
| Winnipesaukee River At Tilton | 1,610 cfs | → |
| Saco River Near Conway | 1,420 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Bristol | 160 cfs | → |
| Merrimack River At Franklin Junction | 4,850 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Copps Pond Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Thornton Railroad Bridge To Bridgewater/Bristol Town Line
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- Headwaters At Profile Lake To Southern Boundary Of Franconia Notch State Park
Track Copps 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 Copps Pond Dam
Where does the data for Copps 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 Significant 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 Copps Pond Dam.