Pickpocket Dam
Pickpocket Dam is a concrete dam located in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, built in 1920. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Pickpocket Dam
The primary purpose of Pickpocket Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Exeter Public Works (local government). It impounds the Exeter River near Brentwood.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 230 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 22 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 185 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 86 square miles. Completed in 1920, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/15/2022.
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 | Rockingham |
| Nearest City | Brentwood |
| River/Stream | Exeter River |
| Coordinates | 42.96995, -71.00121 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 230 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 185 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 185 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 75 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 22 acres |
| Drainage Area | 86 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,250 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | TOWN OF EXETER PUBLIC WORKS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/15/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00294 |
| Federal ID | NH00294 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |