Spectacle Pond Dam
Spectacle Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Grafton County, New Hampshire, built in 1915. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Spectacle Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Spectacle Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Spectacle Pond Association (private). It impounds the Tr Cockermouth River near Groton.
The dam stands 7 feet tall and stretches 46 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 58 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 140 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1915, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/22/2021.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The New Hampshire dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Grafton |
| Nearest City | Groton |
| River/Stream | Tr Cockermouth River |
| Coordinates | 43.71297, -71.83413 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Length | 46 ft |
| Year Completed | 1915 (111 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 115 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 58 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | SPECTACLE POND ASSOCIATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/22/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00043 |
| Federal ID | NH00043 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |