Spoonwood Pond Dam dam
Spoonwood Pond Dam
Spoonwood Pond Dam in Nelson, New Hampshire, is a privately owned earth dam built in 1855 for recreational purposes on the TR Nubanusit Brook. With a height of 12 feet and a length of 280 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 775 acre-feet and a surface area of 167 acres. While the dam is classified as low hazard with fair condition assessment, it is regulated and inspected by the NHDES Dam Bureau to ensure public safety.
Located in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, Spoonwood Pond Dam provides a picturesque backdrop for outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, and wildlife observation. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 10 feet, allowing for the release of excess water. Despite being modified over the years, the dam's risk assessment is moderate, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to mitigate potential hazards.
With its historical significance and natural beauty, Spoonwood Pond Dam serves as a vital water resource for the community while also offering opportunities for recreation and environmental conservation. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the dam's role in managing flood risk and maintaining ecosystem health becomes increasingly important for sustaining the region's water supply and biodiversity.
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 Spoonwood Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch River Near Antrim | 61 cfs | → |
| Nubanusit Bk Blw Macdowell Dam Nr Peterborough Nh | 31 cfs | → |
| Otter Brook Below Otter Brook Dam | 12 cfs | → |
| Contoocook River At Peterborough | 118 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River Near Gilsum | 126 cfs | → |
| S Br Ashuelot River At Webb | 25 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spoonwood Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Nubanusit Lake Boat Launch
- Center Pond Boat Launch
- Harrisville Pond Boat Launch
- Norway Pond Boat Launch
- Granite Lake Boat Launch
- Silver Lake Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Camp Wanocksett
- Mt Monadnock State Park Campground
- Fox Brook Tent Site
- Wheelock Park Campground
- Pilgrim Pines Camping Area
- Swanzey Lake Camping Area
Paddle runs
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- Headwaters To Crossing Of Route 100 Near Route 155
Track Spoonwood 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 Spoonwood Pond Dam
Where does the data for Spoonwood 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 Spoonwood Pond Dam.