Shop Pond Dam dam
Shop Pond Dam
Shop Pond Dam, also known as Wash Pond Lower Dam, is a local government-owned structure located in Hampstead, New Hampshire. Constructed in 1935, this earth dam stands at a height of 13 feet and spans a length of 240 feet, serving primarily for recreational purposes. With a storage capacity of 16 acre-feet and a surface area of 2.5 acres, this dam on TR Island Pond is regulated by the NHDES DAM BUREAU, ensuring state permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
The dam's condition assessment in 2015 rated it as "fair" with a significant hazard potential, prompting a moderate risk assessment. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide recreational opportunities for the local community, offering a tranquil escape within Rockingham County. With a maximum discharge of 93 cubic feet per second and uncontrolled spillway type, Shop Pond Dam remains a vital water management structure in the region.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate Shop Pond Dam's historical significance, structural design, and operational importance within the local watershed. As a vital piece of infrastructure, this dam not only contributes to the area's recreational landscape but also plays a crucial role in managing water levels and ensuring public safety. With ongoing regulatory oversight and periodic inspections, Shop Pond Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship in New Hampshire's water management practices.
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 Shop Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spicket River At North Salem | 0 cfs | → |
| Spicket River Near Methuen | 16 cfs | → |
| Exeter River At Haigh Road | 52 cfs | → |
| Beaver Brook At North Pelham | 31 cfs | → |
| Merrimack R Nr Goffs Falls | 8,350 cfs | → |
| Parker River At Byfield | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shop Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Phillips Pond Boat Launch
- Long Pond Boat Launch
- Beaver Lake Boat Launch
- Country Pond Boat Launch
- Greenwood Pond Boat Launch
- Scobie Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
- Remote Campsite
- Tidewater Campground
- Salisbury State Park Reservation
- Camp Evergreen
- Saddleback Campground
Paddle runs
Track Shop 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 Shop Pond Dam
Where does the data for Shop 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 Significant 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 Shop Pond Dam.