Spaulding Pond Dam dam
Spaulding Pond Dam
Spaulding Pond Dam, also known as North Rochester Dam, is a private dam located in Rochester, New Hampshire, along the Salmon Falls River. Built in 1899, it serves a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation, with a concrete structure standing at 19 feet high and stretching 1757 feet in length. The dam has a storage capacity of 700 acre-feet and a surface area of 65 acres, supporting a drainage area of 118 square miles.
Managed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau, the Spaulding Pond Dam is regulated at both state and federal levels, with inspections conducted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 157 feet and multiple outlet gates, including other controlled and vertical lift gates. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is classified as having a very high risk due to its age and the potential impact of a failure on downstream communities.
With its historical significance and role in hydroelectric power production, the Spaulding Pond Dam stands as a vital component in the local water resource infrastructure. Its maintenance and management are crucial to ensuring the safety of surrounding areas and the continued operation of the hydroelectric facility. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate change will find the Spaulding Pond Dam's design, operation, and risk assessments to be of particular interest in understanding the intersection of human engineering and natural systems.
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 Spaulding Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cocheco River Near Rochester | 97 cfs | → |
| Isinglass R At Rochester Neck Rd | 53 cfs | → |
| Oyster River Near Durham | 11 cfs | → |
| Mousam River Near West Kennebunk | 225 cfs | → |
| Lamprey River Near Newmarket | 119 cfs | → |
| Suncook River At North Chichester | 221 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spaulding Pond Dam .
Boat launches
- Baxter Lake Boat Launch
- Emery Mills Road 125, Shapleigh
- Cathy Schiro O'Brien Cross Country Running Trail Dover
- Willand Pond Boat Launch
- Merrymeeting Lake Boat Launch
- Lovell Lake Road 3198, Acton
Campgrounds
Track Spaulding 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 Spaulding Pond Dam
Where does the data for Spaulding 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 Spaulding Pond Dam .