Hoods Pond Dam
Hoods Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, built in 1945. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Hoods Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Hoods Pond 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 Derry (local government). It impounds the Shields Brook near Derry.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 560 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 368 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1945, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 07/26/2022.
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 | Derry |
| River/Stream | Shields Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.88337, -71.32999 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 560 ft |
| Year Completed | 1945 (81 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 368 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 368 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 42 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,686 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | TOWN OF DERRY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00506 |
| Federal ID | NH00506 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |