Chesham Pond Dam
Chesham Pond Dam is a stone dam located in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, built in 1921. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Chesham Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Chesham Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nh Des Water Division (state). It impounds the Minnewawa Brook near Harrisville.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 125 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 92 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,050 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1921, 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 11/28/2021.
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 | Harrisville |
| River/Stream | Minnewawa Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.93770, -72.13860 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Stone |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 125 ft |
| Year Completed | 1921 (105 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,050 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,050 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 460 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 92 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,479 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | NH DES WATER DIVISION |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/28/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00063 |
| Federal ID | NH00063 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |