Thornwood Commons Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Strafford County, New Hampshire, built in 1961. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 16 ft16 ft tall and 420 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Thornwood Commons Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Thornwood Commons Pond Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Varney Brook Lands LLC (private). It impounds the Varney Brook near Dover.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 420 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 32 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1961, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 07/30/2021.
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Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Strafford |
| Nearest City | Dover |
| River/Stream | Varney Brook |
| Coordinates | 43.17292, -70.85628 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 420 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 32 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 32 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 173 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | Varney Brook Lands LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/30/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH01700 |
| Federal ID | NH01700 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |