Meadow Pond Dam
Encyclopedia
Meadow Pond Dam was an earthen dam in Alton, New Hampshire
, in the United States, that collapsed in 1996, causing a fatal flood.
in east-central New Hampshire. A single two-lane highway (Route 140
) serves as the main gateway to the town from the west. Route 140 crosses the Merrymeeting River
to the west of the center of town.
On the evening of Wednesday, March 13, 1996, the wife of the dam owner noticed the creek running between the Bergeron dam and the Merrymeeting River swollen with water. Bob Bergeron inspected the dam at 6:46 p.m. and found that a three-foot hole had opened in the dam and was flooding the area between his residence and Route 140. Less than ten minutes later the dam had failed, releasing 92 million gallons of water towards town. The failure of the Bergeron Dam resulted in one fatality, two injuries, and damage to several homes.
The rush of water from the dam break undermined a section of Route 140, causing a tractor-trailer to sink into a hole in the road. Larry Sinclair, owner of the tractor trailer, was rescued by a neighbor, but his wife Lynda, 48, who was traveling behind him in a pickup truck, was killed when flood waters swept the truck into a ravine.
About a quarter-mile of road was damaged. The flooding also caused power outages in Gilmanton
, Belmont
, and Alton. Code Enforcement Officer Richard Canuel initially suggested, "There are a great many possible causes or combination of causes -- from something as simple as a leak in a dam pipe, to the natural effects of ice damming." Subsequent investigations by the state-appointed civil engineering firm GEI Consultants indicated the failure was caused by a combination of design and construction deficiencies. The design did not adequately account for the cold weather conditions, and mistakes in construction greatly exacerbated the errors.
Alton, New Hampshire
Alton is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,250 at the 2010 census. It is home to Alton Bay State Forest and Mount Major State Forest. Alton includes the village of Alton Bay, a long-time resort located beside Lake Winnipesaukee.The primary settlement in...
, in the United States, that collapsed in 1996, causing a fatal flood.
Location
Alton is a town of 5,000 located at the southern tip of Lake WinnipesaukeeLake Winnipesaukee
Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. It is approximately long and from wide , covering — when Paugus Bay is included—with a maximum depth of ....
in east-central New Hampshire. A single two-lane highway (Route 140
New Hampshire Route 140
New Hampshire Route 140 is a long east–west state highway in New Hampshire. It runs from Tilton to Alton.The western terminus of NH 140 is in Tilton at U.S. Route 3 and New Hampshire Route 11. The eastern terminus is in Alton at NH 11 and New Hampshire Route 28A . In Alton, the road is named the...
) serves as the main gateway to the town from the west. Route 140 crosses the Merrymeeting River
Merrymeeting River
The Merrymeeting River is a river located in the Lakes Region of central New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of Lake Winnipesaukee, part of the Merrimack River watershed....
to the west of the center of town.
Meadow Pond/Bergeron Pond dam failure
Located to the northwest of the river crossing reside the Bergerons, who own the 696 acres (281.7 ha) property where Meadow Pond is located. After purchasing the property in the early 1990s, the Bergerons constructed a dam at their own expense to expand the original pond for boating and other recreational uses. The pond was increased to 45 acres (18.2 ha) of water (92000000 gallons (12,298,611.6 cu ft) of water), held back by a trapezoidal-shaped earthen dam, 465 feet (141.7 m) long and 36 feet (11 m) high.On the evening of Wednesday, March 13, 1996, the wife of the dam owner noticed the creek running between the Bergeron dam and the Merrymeeting River swollen with water. Bob Bergeron inspected the dam at 6:46 p.m. and found that a three-foot hole had opened in the dam and was flooding the area between his residence and Route 140. Less than ten minutes later the dam had failed, releasing 92 million gallons of water towards town. The failure of the Bergeron Dam resulted in one fatality, two injuries, and damage to several homes.
The rush of water from the dam break undermined a section of Route 140, causing a tractor-trailer to sink into a hole in the road. Larry Sinclair, owner of the tractor trailer, was rescued by a neighbor, but his wife Lynda, 48, who was traveling behind him in a pickup truck, was killed when flood waters swept the truck into a ravine.
About a quarter-mile of road was damaged. The flooding also caused power outages in Gilmanton
Gilmanton, New Hampshire
Gilmanton is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,777 at the 2010 census. Gilmanton includes the villages of Gilmanton Corner and Gilmanton Ironworks...
, Belmont
Belmont, New Hampshire
Belmont is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,356 at the 2010 census.The primary settlement in town, where 1,301 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined by the U.S...
, and Alton. Code Enforcement Officer Richard Canuel initially suggested, "There are a great many possible causes or combination of causes -- from something as simple as a leak in a dam pipe, to the natural effects of ice damming." Subsequent investigations by the state-appointed civil engineering firm GEI Consultants indicated the failure was caused by a combination of design and construction deficiencies. The design did not adequately account for the cold weather conditions, and mistakes in construction greatly exacerbated the errors.