Pierce Pond Dam
Pierce Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, built in 1700. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Pierce Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Pierce 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 Brookline (local government). It impounds the Wolf Brook near Brookline.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 54 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 148 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1700, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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 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 04/13/2021.
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 | Hillsborough |
| Nearest City | Brookline |
| River/Stream | Wolf Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.70940, -71.66770 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1700 (326 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 148 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 148 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 19 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 54 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 350 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | TOWN OF BROOKLINE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/13/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00921 |
| Federal ID | NH00921 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |