Bear Hill Pond Dam dam
Bear Hill Pond Dam
Bear Hill Pond Dam, located in Allenstown, New Hampshire, is a state-owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1885, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 7 feet and stretches 310 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 90 acre-feet. The dam regulates Boat Meadow Brook and has a surface area of 31 acres, providing a serene backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy various water-based activities.
Managed by the NHDES Dam Bureau, Bear Hill Pond Dam has a low hazard potential and is deemed to be in fair condition as of the last assessment in 2012. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 10 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 1130 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has been inspected regularly, with the most recent inspection conducted in August 2018 at a frequency of every 6 years, ensuring the safety and integrity of the structure.
Surrounded by the picturesque Merrimack County landscape, Bear Hill Pond Dam offers a tranquil escape for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to appreciate the intersection of nature and infrastructure. With its historical significance and recreational appeal, this dam serves as a vital component of the local ecosystem while providing a safe and enjoyable environment for visitors to explore and appreciate the beauty of New Hampshire's water resources.
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 Bear Hill Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Soucook River | 22 cfs | → |
| Suncook River At North Chichester | 221 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 137 cfs | → |
| Merrimack R Nr Goffs Falls | 8,350 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Bl Everett Dam | 8 cfs | → |
| South Branch Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 127 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Hill Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Massabesic Lake Boat Launch
- Pleasant Lake Boat Launch
- Onway Lake Boat Launch
- Deer Meadow Pond Boat Launch
- Turee Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Saddleback Campground
- Remote Campsite
- Camp Spaulding
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
- Mile-Away Campground
- Old Stage Campground
Track Bear Hill 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 Bear Hill Pond Dam
Where does the data for Bear Hill 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 Bear Hill Pond Dam.