Eel Pond Dam dam
Eel Pond Dam
Eel Pond Dam, located in Rye, New Hampshire, serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock maintenance, and as a small fish pond. Completed in 1991, this earth dam stands at a height of 6.2 feet and has a storage capacity of 170 acre-feet. It is regulated by the NHDES DAM BUREAU and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam has a low hazard potential and is currently in satisfactory condition, with a moderate risk assessment rating.
Situated on Bailey Brook, Eel Pond Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in Rockingham County. With a drainage area of 2.4 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 80 cubic feet per second, the dam helps control water flow and provides essential water storage for various purposes. Despite being uncontrolled, the spillway type of the dam ensures that excess water is safely released to prevent overflow and flooding in the surrounding area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Eel Pond Dam represents a key infrastructure piece in New Hampshire's water management system. From fire protection to maintaining ecological balance through stock and fish pond activities, this dam showcases the importance of sustainable water resource utilization. Its satisfactory condition, regular inspections, and low hazard potential highlight the commitment to ensuring the safety and efficiency of water management infrastructure 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 Eel Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Winnicut River At Greenland | 39 cfs | → |
| Lamprey River Near Newmarket | 271 cfs | → |
| Exeter River At Haigh Road | 72 cfs | → |
| Oyster River Near Durham | 33 cfs | → |
| Parker River At Byfield | 19 cfs | → |
| Isinglass R At Rochester Neck Rd | 252 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Eel Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Odiorne Point Boat Launch
- Little Harbor Loop Trail Portsmouth
- Hampton Falls River Boat Launch
- Squamscott River Boat Launch
- Great Bay Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Tidewater Campground
- Salisbury State Park Reservation
- Old Stage Campground
- Remote Campsite
- Saddleback Campground
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
Paddle runs
Track Eel 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 Eel Pond Dam
Where does the data for Eel 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 Eel Pond Dam.