Pratt Pond Dam dam
Pratt Pond Dam
Pratt Pond Dam, located in Mason, New Hampshire, is a state-regulated structure designed for recreational purposes. The dam is classified as an earth dam with a height of 6.2 feet and a length of 140 feet. Completed in 1935, it has a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 34 acres. The dam is situated on TR Mitchell Brook and is managed by the NHDES Dam Bureau.
Despite being categorized as having a low hazard potential, the dam has a moderate risk assessment of 3. It is not currently rated for its condition, and the last inspection was conducted in July 2015. The emergency action plan status, inundation maps, and risk management measures for Pratt Pond Dam are not readily available in the data provided. Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find Pratt Pond Dam an intriguing case study for examining the regulatory oversight and risk assessment of recreational dams in New Hampshire.
Water resource enthusiasts may be interested in further exploring the environmental impact and hydrological significance of Pratt Pond Dam within the context of the local Hillsborough County watershed. The dam, with its uncontrolled spillway type and earth construction, presents a unique opportunity to study the interactions between human-made structures and natural water systems. Understanding the management and maintenance practices of Pratt Pond Dam can provide valuable insights into sustainable water resource management strategies for similar recreational dams in the region.
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 Pratt Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Souhegan River (Site Wlr-1) Near Milford | 85 cfs | → |
| Contoocook River At Peterborough | 58 cfs | → |
| Squannacook River Near West Groton | 42 cfs | → |
| Nashua River At East Pepperell | 341 cfs | → |
| Nubanusit Bk Blw Macdowell Dam Nr Peterborough Nh | 31 cfs | → |
| Souhegan River At Merrimack | 140 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pratt Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Melendy Pond Boat Launch
- Cunningham Pond Boat Launch
- Flints Pond Boat Launch
- Zephyr Lake Boat Launch
- Grassy Pond Boat Launch
- Naticook Lake Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Damon Pond Campground
- Pearl Hill Campground
- Camp Wanocksett
- Mt Monadnock State Park Campground
- Grotonwood
- Lake Dennison State Park
Track Pratt 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 Pratt Pond Dam
Where does the data for Pratt 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 Pratt Pond Dam.