Island Pond Dam dam
Island Pond Dam
Island Pond Dam, located in Washington, New Hampshire, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1861 for recreational purposes. With a height of 13 feet and a length of 120 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 4,130 acre-feet and serves the nearby TR Beards Brook. The dam is regulated by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau and is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Island Pond Dam poses a moderate risk due to its age and the potential impact of a breach on downstream areas. The spillway, with a width of 11 feet, is uncontrolled, and the dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 185 cubic feet per second. While the dam has not undergone significant modifications in recent years, its risk management measures and emergency action plan status are not clearly defined, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and preparedness in the event of an emergency.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Island Pond Dam can appreciate its historical significance and recreational value, while also recognizing the importance of maintaining its integrity and implementing necessary risk management measures to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the environment. By staying informed about the dam's condition and regulatory oversight, enthusiasts can contribute to efforts to safeguard this vital infrastructure and preserve the natural resources it supports.
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 Island Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch River Near Antrim | 61 cfs | → |
| Contoocook River Near Henniker | 782 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River Near Gilsum | 126 cfs | → |
| Contoocook R Bl Hopkinton Dam At W Hopkinton | 1,080 cfs | → |
| Warner River At Davisville | 405 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River Below Surry Mt Dam | 259 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Island Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Island Pond Boat Launch
- Halfmoon Pond Boat Launch
- Smith Pond Boat Launch
- Millen Lake Boat Launch
- Highland Lake Boat Launch
- Long Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Fox Brook Tent Site
- Northstar Campground
- Mile-Away Campground
- Wheelock Park Campground
- Camp Wanocksett
- Mt Monadnock State Park Campground
Paddle runs
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- Headwaters To Crossing Of Route 100 Near Route 155
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
Track Island 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 Island Pond Dam
Where does the data for Island 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 Island Pond Dam.