Hawkins Pond Dam dam
Hawkins Pond Dam
Hawkins Pond Dam, located in Center Harbor, New Hampshire, is a state-regulated structure owned by the State of New Hampshire. Built in 1873, this earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet and has a length of 100 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 370 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is for recreation, providing a surface area of 93 acres for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
Despite being deemed in fair condition during the last assessment in 2016, Hawkins Pond Dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential, with a moderate risk level. The dam is regularly inspected by the NHDES DAM BUREAU, with the last inspection conducted in November 2020. With a spillway width of 23 feet and a maximum discharge of 243 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels on Hawkins Pond Brook.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Hawkins Pond Dam serves as a vital structure for recreational activities while also highlighting the importance of regular inspections and risk management measures to ensure the safety and stability of the dam and surrounding areas. Its historical significance and role in water management make it a noteworthy site in Belknap County, New Hampshire.
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 Hawkins Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pemigewasset River At Plymouth | 1,690 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Bristol | 160 cfs | → |
| Baker River Near Rumney | 302 cfs | → |
| Winnipesaukee River At Tilton | 1,610 cfs | → |
| Bearcamp River At South Tamworth | 164 cfs | → |
| Merrimack River At Franklin Junction | 4,850 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hawkins Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Winona Lake Boat Launch
- Squam Lake Public Boat Launch
- Wickwas Lake Boat Launch
- Kanasatka Lake Boat Launch
- Mooney Clark Landing Road Bristol
- Lake Winnipesaukee Boat Launch
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Thornton Railroad Bridge To Bridgewater/Bristol Town Line
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- Headwaters At Profile Lake To Southern Boundary Of Franconia Notch State Park
Track Hawkins 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 Hawkins Pond Dam
Where does the data for Hawkins 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 Hawkins Pond Dam.