Horn Pond Dam
Horn Pond Dam is a concrete dam located in Carroll County, New Hampshire, built in 1930. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Horn Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Horn 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 Salmon Falls River near Wakefield.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 198 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,318 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 22 square miles. Completed in 1930, 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 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 04/25/2022.
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 | Carroll |
| Nearest City | Wakefield |
| River/Stream | Salmon Falls River |
| Coordinates | 43.55270, -70.95360 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,318 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,318 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,751 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 198 acres |
| Drainage Area | 22 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,234 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | NH DES WATER DIVISION |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/25/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00226 |
| Federal ID | NH00226 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |