Campton Pond Hydro Dam
Campton Pond Hydro Dam is a concrete dam located in Grafton County, New Hampshire, built in 1890. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Campton Pond Hydro Dam
The primary purpose of Campton Pond Hydro Dam is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by White Mountain National Forest (federal). It impounds the Mad River near Campton.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 465 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 36 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 650 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 58 square miles. Completed in 1890, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/14/2022.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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 | Grafton |
| Nearest City | Campton |
| River/Stream | Mad River |
| Coordinates | 43.86190, -71.63250 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Length | 465 ft |
| Year Completed | 1890 (136 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 650 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 650 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 350 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 36 acres |
| Drainage Area | 58 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/14/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00130 |
| Federal ID | NH00130 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |