Walpole Reservoir Dam
Walpole Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, built in 1901. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Walpole Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Walpole Reservoir Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Town Of Walpole (local government). It impounds the Mad Brook near Walpole.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 355 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 16 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1901, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/23/2021.
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 | Cheshire |
| Nearest City | Walpole |
| River/Stream | Mad Brook |
| Coordinates | 43.08020, -72.40830 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 355 ft |
| Year Completed | 1901 (125 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 642 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | TOWN OF WALPOLE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/23/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH01100 |
| Federal ID | NH01100 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |