Dorrs Pond Dam dam
Dorrs Pond Dam
Dorrs Pond Dam, located in Manchester, New Hampshire, was completed in 1934 and serves primarily for recreation purposes. The dam stands at a height of 9 feet and has a length of 125 feet, with a storage capacity of 118 acre-feet. The pond created by the dam covers an area of 25 acres and drains an area of 2.4 square miles, with a maximum discharge capacity of 795 cubic feet per second.
Despite its recreational significance, Dorrs Pond Dam poses a high hazard potential and has been rated as being in poor condition. The dam is regulated by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau, with inspections conducted every two years. The emergency action plan for the dam was last updated in 2011, and there are moderate risks associated with the structure.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Dorrs Pond Dam may find its design and construction details, as well as its current condition and hazard potential, to be of particular interest. The dam's Earth and Stone structure, along with its Uncontrolled spillway type, contribute to its unique characteristics within the state. The presence of a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts to ensure the safety and integrity of this essential water management structure.
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 Dorrs Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Merrimack R Nr Goffs Falls | 8,350 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 137 cfs | → |
| South Branch Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 127 cfs | → |
| Souhegan River At Merrimack | 235 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Bl Everett Dam | 8 cfs | → |
| Soucook River | 22 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dorrs Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Massabesic Lake Boat Launch
- Heritage Trail Bedford
- Piscataquog River (Glen Lake) Boat Launch
- Kimball Pond Boat Launch
- Scobie Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
- Remote Campsite
- Saddleback Campground
- Camp Spaulding
- Mile-Away Campground
- Old Stage Campground
Paddle runs
Track Dorrs 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 Dorrs Pond Dam
Where does the data for Dorrs 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 Dorrs Pond Dam.