Mendums Pond Dam dam
Mendums Pond Dam
Mendums Pond Dam, located in Nottingham, New Hampshire, is a state-regulated earth dam constructed in 1840 for recreational purposes on the Little River. With a height of 31 feet and a length of 440 feet, the dam provides a maximum storage capacity of 3,330 acre-feet, making it a significant water resource in the area. The dam has a high hazard potential and a poor condition assessment, indicating a need for maintenance and potential safety improvements.
Despite its age, Mendums Pond Dam continues to be a popular recreational spot, offering boating and fishing opportunities on its 265-acre surface area. The dam's outdated uncontrolled spillway and poor condition pose challenges for its long-term sustainability and safety for surrounding communities. Regular inspections by the NHDES DAM BUREAU and a moderate risk assessment highlight the need for ongoing monitoring and potential risk management measures to ensure the dam's continued functionality and safety.
As climate change impacts water resources and infrastructure, Mendums Pond Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and updating aging dams to mitigate potential risks and adapt to changing hydrological conditions. Collaboration between state agencies, stakeholders, and the community will be essential in ensuring the continued safety and functionality of this historic dam for future generations of water resource and climate enthusiasts.
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 Mendums Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Oyster River Near Durham | 11 cfs | → |
| Lamprey River Near Newmarket | 119 cfs | → |
| Isinglass R At Rochester Neck Rd | 53 cfs | → |
| Cocheco River Near Rochester | 97 cfs | → |
| Exeter River At Haigh Road | 52 cfs | → |
| Winnicut River At Greenland | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mendums Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Swains Lake Boat Launch
- Canaan Back Road Barrington
- Pawtuckaway Pond Boat Launch
- Cathy Schiro O'Brien Cross Country Running Trail Dover
- Oyster River Boat Launch
- Piscassic River Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Saddleback Campground
- Remote Campsite
- Old Stage Campground
- Tidewater Campground
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
- Salisbury State Park Reservation
Paddle runs
Track Mendums 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 Mendums Pond Dam
Where does the data for Mendums 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 High 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 Mendums Pond Dam.