Paper Mills Holding Pond Dam dam
Paper Mills Holding Pond Dam
The Paper Mills Holding Pond Dam in Winchester, New Hampshire, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1978 with a height of 20 feet and a length of 600 feet. Situated on an unnamed stream, the dam serves a primary purpose not specified in the data, with a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet. While the dam has a significant hazard potential and is categorized as having a fair condition assessment, it is inspected regularly by the NHDES Dam Bureau, with the last inspection conducted in April 2018.
Located in Cheshire County, the Paper Mills Holding Pond Dam has a spillway type listed as "None" and no outlet gates or associated structures. Despite the lack of a spillway, the dam has been designed with a buttress core type and is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state of New Hampshire. The dam's risk assessment is considered high, with a hazard rating of 2, indicating the potential for significant consequences in the event of failure. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in February 2000, and the risk management measures and inundation maps status are not specified in the data.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find the Paper Mills Holding Pond Dam an intriguing subject for further investigation, given its high risk assessment and lack of a spillway. With a fair condition assessment and regular inspections by the NHDES Dam Bureau, the dam presents an opportunity to explore the management and safety protocols of private dams in New Hampshire. The dam's location on an unnamed stream adds to its mystique, making it a valuable case study for understanding the complexities and challenges of dam regulation and maintenance in the 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 Paper Mills Holding Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ashuelot River At Hinsdale | 758 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River At West Swanzey | 598 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Colrain | 47 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River Above The Branch | 21 cfs | → |
| S Br Ashuelot River At Webb | 25 cfs | → |
| Millers River At Erving | 643 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Paper Mills Holding Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Spofford Lake Boat Launch
- Swanzey Lake Boat Launch
- Wilson Pond Boat Launch
- Meetinghouse Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Fort Dummer State Park
- Richardson-Zlogar Cabin
- Swanzey Lake Camping Area
- Pilgrim Pines Camping Area
- Falls Brook Shelter
- Wheelock Park Campground
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- Headwaters To First Bridge
Track Paper Mills Holding 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 Paper Mills Holding Pond Dam
Where does the data for Paper Mills Holding 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 Paper Mills Holding Pond Dam.