Mill Pond Dam dam
Mill Pond Dam
Mill Pond Dam, located in Walpole, New Hampshire, is a local government-owned structure built in 1937 primarily for recreational purposes along the Connecticut River. This Earth-type dam stands at a height of 16 feet and spans 150 feet, with a storage capacity of 120.2 acre-feet. Despite its fair condition assessment as of November 2017, the dam poses a significant hazard potential and undergoes inspections every four years to ensure its safety and integrity.
Managed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau, Mill Pond Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, with a maximum discharge capacity of 550 cubic feet per second. While the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, there are no specific risk management measures or inundation maps prepared, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and emergency preparedness in case of unforeseen events.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Mill Pond Dam serves as a focal point for understanding the intersection of human infrastructure with natural water systems. With its location along the Connecticut River, the dam not only provides recreational opportunities but also presents challenges in ensuring its safety and resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions. As discussions around dam safety and risk management evolve, Mill Pond Dam stands as a case study in balancing the benefits and potential risks associated with water resource development.
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 Mill Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut River At North Walpole | 13,800 cfs | → |
| Saxtons River At Saxtons River | 19 cfs | → |
| Williams River Near Rockingham Vt | 170 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River Near Gilsum | 156 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River Below Surry Mt Dam | 317 cfs | → |
| West River Below Townshend Dam Near Townshend | 46 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mill Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Warren Boat Launch
- Surry Mountain Lake
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Chapman Pond Boat Launch
- Stone Pond Boat Launch
- Bolster Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Wheelock Park Campground
- Tree Farm Campground
- Townshend State Park
- Fox Brook Tent Site
- Jamaica State Park
- Pilgrim Pines Camping Area
Paddle runs
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- Headwaters To Crossing Of Route 100 Near Route 155
- End Of Kendall Farm Road To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To End Of Kendall Farm Road
Track Mill 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 Mill Pond Dam
Where does the data for Mill 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 Mill Pond Dam.