Damon Upper Reservoir Dam dam
Damon Upper Reservoir Dam
Damon Upper Reservoir Dam, located in Rindge, New Hampshire, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1835, this Roller-Compacted Concrete dam stands at a height of 14 feet and has a length of 525 feet, holding a maximum storage capacity of 567 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Tarbell Brook and has a drainage area of 10.8 square miles, with a surface area of 49.3 acres.
With a high hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of May 2017, Damon Upper Reservoir Dam has been regulated, inspected, and permitted by the NHDES DAM BUREAU. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 128 feet and a maximum discharge capability of 4879 cubic feet per second. Despite being over 180 years old, the dam has undergone regular inspections, with the last one conducted in October 2019, emphasizing its commitment to ensuring public safety and maintaining its structural integrity.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate the historical significance and engineering marvel of Damon Upper Reservoir Dam. As it continues to provide recreational opportunities while facing moderate risk, the dam represents a blend of heritage and modern-day resilience in safeguarding the surrounding community and the environment. With its captivating design and critical role in water management, Damon Upper Reservoir Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity and natural resource stewardship.
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 Damon Upper Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Millers River Near Winchendon | 121 cfs | → |
| Priest Brook Near Winchendon | 33 cfs | → |
| Birch Hill Reservoir At South Royalston | 30 cfs | → |
| Millers River At South Royalston | 39 cfs | → |
| East Branch Tully River Near Athol | 5 cfs | → |
| Otter River At Otter River | 105 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Damon Upper Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Pool Pond Boat Launch
- Laurel Lake Boat Launch
- Contoocook Lake Boat Launch
- Grassy Pond Boat Launch
- River Road Royalston
- Perkins Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- North Dennison Camping Area
- Lake Dennison State Park
- East Dennison Camping Area
- Otter River State Forest
- Beaman Pond Campground
- Falls Brook Shelter
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)
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
Track Damon Upper Reservoir 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 Damon Upper Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Damon Upper Reservoir 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 High 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 Damon Upper Reservoir Dam.