Gilson Pond Dam dam
Gilson Pond Dam
Gilson Pond Dam, located in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, was completed in 1937 and serves as a recreational resource on the GILSON POND river. This earth dam stands at a height of 11.2 feet and has a length of 85 feet, with a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet. The dam is under state jurisdiction and regulated by the NHDES DAM BUREAU, ensuring regular inspections and enforcement to maintain its satisfactory condition.
Despite its low hazard potential, Gilson Pond Dam is considered to have a moderate risk level. The dam's spillway, with a width of 15 feet, is uncontrolled, and the structure has not been significantly modified in recent years. The surrounding area has a drainage area of 0.97 square miles, with a maximum discharge capacity of 444 cubic feet per second. The dam's primary purpose is recreation, offering a surface area of 16 acres for outdoor activities.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate can appreciate Gilson Pond Dam for its historical significance and role in providing recreational opportunities in the Cheshire County region of New Hampshire. With its satisfactory condition and regular inspections, the dam continues to serve as a vital part of the local landscape, offering a safe and enjoyable environment for visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.
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 Gilson Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nubanusit Bk Blw Macdowell Dam Nr Peterborough Nh | 31 cfs | → |
| Contoocook River At Peterborough | 107 cfs | → |
| S Br Ashuelot River At Webb | 25 cfs | → |
| Otter Brook Below Otter Brook Dam | 12 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River Above The Branch | 21 cfs | → |
| Millers River Near Winchendon | 100 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gilson Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Thorndike Pond Boat Launch
- Frost Pond Boat Launch
- Dublin Pond Boat Launch
- Perkins Pond Boat Launch
- Macdowell Reservoir Boat Launch
- Stone Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Mt Monadnock State Park Campground
- Camp Wanocksett
- Swanzey Lake Camping Area
- Pilgrim Pines Camping Area
- Wheelock Park Campground
- Falls Brook Shelter
Paddle runs
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
Track Gilson 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 Gilson Pond Dam
Where does the data for Gilson 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 Gilson Pond Dam.