Reservoir Pond Dam dam
Reservoir Pond Dam
Located in Dorchester, New Hampshire, the Reservoir Pond Dam is a privately owned structure regulated by the NHDES Dam Bureau. Built in 1900 with a primary purpose of recreation, this earthen dam stands at a height of 12 feet and spans 200 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 949 acre-feet and a surface area of 158 acres, the dam serves as a recreational spot for locals and visitors alike.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, the Reservoir Pond Dam has been assessed as being in poor condition, with a low hazard potential but moderate risk. The last inspection in 2018 highlighted the need for maintenance and improvements. While the dam currently meets state regulations for permitting, inspection, and enforcement, there are concerns about its structural integrity and emergency preparedness.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Reservoir Pond Dam presents an intriguing case study in the intersection of historical infrastructure, recreational use, and environmental risk management. With its location on the Mascoma River and its outdated spillway design, the dam serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in maintaining and safeguarding water resources in the face of changing climate conditions. As efforts are made to address the dam's poor condition and mitigate potential risks, it stands as a symbol of the complex relationship between human intervention and natural systems.
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 Reservoir Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Baker River Near Rumney | 367 cfs | → |
| Ompompanoosuc River At Union Village | 16 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At West Lebanon | 6,790 cfs | → |
| Pemigewasset River At Plymouth | 1,900 cfs | → |
| White River At West Hartford | 1,370 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River At North Hartland | 394 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Reservoir Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Reservoir Pond Boat Launch
- Post Pond Boat Launch
- Lower Baker Pond Boat Launch
- Upper Baker Pond Boat Launch
- Indian Pond Boat Launch
- Spectacle Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Smarts Mountain Campsite
- Trapper John Shelter
- Moose Mountain Shelter
- Hexacuba Shelter
- Roaring Brook Campsite
- Ore Hill Tentsite
Paddle runs
- Thornton Railroad Bridge To Bridgewater/Bristol Town Line
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- Headwaters At Profile Lake To Southern Boundary Of Franconia Notch State Park
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Headwaters To Woodstock, Vt
Track Reservoir 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 Reservoir Pond Dam
Where does the data for Reservoir 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 Reservoir Pond Dam.