Lyford Pond Dam
Lyford Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, built in 1840. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lyford Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Lyford Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Canterbury Shaker Village Inc (private). It impounds the Guess Brook near Canterbury.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 24 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 146 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1840, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 11/13/2019.
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Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Merrimack |
| Nearest City | Canterbury |
| River/Stream | Guess Brook |
| Coordinates | 43.39627, -71.48374 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1840 (186 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 146 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 146 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 109 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 24 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CANTERBURY SHAKER VILLAGE INC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/13/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00331 |
| Federal ID | NH00331 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |