Sportsman Pond Dam dam
Sportsman Pond Dam
Sportsman Pond Dam, also known as Meadow Pond Dam, is a private recreational dam located in Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire. Built in 1942, this earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and spans 150 feet in length, creating a storage capacity of 975 acre-feet for the surrounding Kemp Brook watershed. With a spillway width of 24 feet and a low hazard potential, this dam serves as a vital resource for water recreation enthusiasts in the area.
Managed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau, Sportsman Pond Dam undergoes regular inspections and has been deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of May 2015. The dam poses a moderate risk factor, with a drainage area of 10.45 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 810 cubic feet per second. While no emergency action plan (EAP) is currently in place, the dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and is designated for recreational purposes, offering a serene escape for visitors seeking water-based activities in Cheshire County.
Ensuring both the safety of the surrounding community and the preservation of the natural ecosystem, Sportsman Pond Dam stands as a testament to responsible water resource management in New Hampshire. With its historical significance dating back to the early 20th century, this dam continues to provide recreational opportunities while adhering to state regulatory standards and environmental stewardship principles. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sportsman Pond Dam represents a harmonious balance between human enjoyment and environmental conservation in the heart of the Granite State.
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 Sportsman Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Priest Brook Near Winchendon | 33 cfs | → |
| Millers River Near Winchendon | 121 cfs | → |
| East Branch Tully River Near Athol | 5 cfs | → |
| Millers River At South Royalston | 39 cfs | → |
| Birch Hill Reservoir At South Royalston | 30 cfs | → |
| S Br Ashuelot River At Webb | 25 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sportsman Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Laurel Lake Boat Launch
- Doane Hill Road Royalston
- River Road Royalston
- Pool Pond Boat Launch
- Perkins Pond Boat Launch
- Contoocook Lake Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Falls Brook Shelter
- Tully Lake
- North Dennison Camping Area
- Lake Dennison State Park
- East Dennison Camping Area
- Beaman Pond Campground
Paddle runs
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
Track Sportsman 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 Sportsman Pond Dam
Where does the data for Sportsman 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 Sportsman Pond Dam.