Pearly Pond Dam dam
Pearly Pond Dam
Located in Rindge, New Hampshire, the Pearly Pond Dam stands as a testament to both engineering prowess and natural beauty. Completed in 1935, this concrete structure spans 110 feet in length and stands at a height of 7 feet, providing a serene backdrop to Tarbell Brook. With a primary purpose of recreation, the dam offers a surface area of 210 acres and a drainage area of 2.8 square miles, making it a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
Maintained by the NHDES Dam Bureau, Pearly Pond Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition is assessed as fair, with a moderate risk level assigned. With a maximum storage capacity of 750 acre-feet and a normal storage of 500 acre-feet, the dam provides essential water resources for the surrounding area while also offering a picturesque recreational spot for visitors to enjoy.
As one of the few privately owned dams in the region, Pearly Pond Dam serves as a prime example of harmonizing human infrastructure with the natural landscape. Its history, design, and purpose all converge to create an inviting environment for outdoor enthusiasts and water resource aficionados to appreciate the intersection of engineering, environment, and recreation. The dam's presence not only enhances the scenic beauty of the area but also underscores the importance of responsible water management and climate stewardship in preserving our natural resources for future generations.
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 Pearly Pond 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 | → |
| Contoocook River At Peterborough | 118 cfs | → |
| Nubanusit Bk Blw Macdowell Dam Nr Peterborough Nh | 31 cfs | → |
| Birch Hill Reservoir At South Royalston | 30 cfs | → |
| S Br Ashuelot River At Webb | 25 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pearly Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Pool Pond Boat Launch
- Contoocook Lake Boat Launch
- Grassy Pond Boat Launch
- Laurel Lake Boat Launch
- Perkins Pond Boat Launch
- Thorndike Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Mt Monadnock State Park Campground
- Camp Wanocksett
- Lake Dennison State Park
- North Dennison Camping Area
- East Dennison Camping Area
- 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
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
Track Pearly 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 Pearly Pond Dam
Where does the data for Pearly 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 Pearly Pond Dam.