Big Island Pond Walter Stickney Dam dam
Big Island Pond Walter Stickney Dam
Located in Derry, New Hampshire, the Big Island Pond Walter Stickney Dam stands as a crucial structure along the Spickett River, serving as a primary source of recreation in the area since its completion in 1905. With a dam height of 10 feet and a length of 100 feet, this earth dam provides a storage capacity of 4950 acre-feet, ensuring a normal storage level of 2750 acre-feet for the surrounding community. The dam's spillway, with a width of 13 feet, is designed as uncontrolled, allowing for efficient discharge during times of excess water flow.
Maintained by the NHDES Dam Bureau, the dam's condition assessment in 2015 deemed it satisfactory, with a significant hazard potential due to its location and storage capacity. Despite this, the risk assessment categorizes it as moderate, with a clear emergency action plan (EAP) in place. The dam is inspected every four years, with the last inspection conducted in October 2019. With its important role in water resource management and recreational activities, the Big Island Pond Walter Stickney Dam remains a vital asset in the region, ensuring both safety and enjoyment for all who benefit from its presence.
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 Big Island Pond Walter Stickney 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 | → |
| Beaver Brook At North Pelham | 31 cfs | → |
| Exeter River At Haigh Road | 52 cfs | → |
| Merrimack R Nr Goffs Falls | 8,350 cfs | → |
| Souhegan River At Merrimack | 235 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Island Pond Walter Stickney Dam.
Boat launches
- Phillips Pond Boat Launch
- Beaver Lake Boat Launch
- Kendall Pond Boat Launch
- Long Pond Boat Launch
- Scobie Pond Boat Launch
- Canoe Launch Windham
Campgrounds
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
- Remote Campsite
- Camp Evergreen
- Tidewater Campground
- Salisbury State Park Reservation
- Saddleback Campground
Paddle runs
Track Big Island Pond Walter Stickney 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 Big Island Pond Walter Stickney Dam
Where does the data for Big Island Pond Walter Stickney 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 Big Island Pond Walter Stickney Dam.