Pawtuckaway Pond
Encyclopedia
Pawtuckaway Lake is a 783 acres (3.2 km²) water body located in Rockingham County
in southeastern New Hampshire
, United States
, in the town of Nottingham
. The official name of the lake is Pawtuckaway Pond. The original, natural pond was enlarged in the 19th century by the construction of four dams. Three of the dams, near the southern end of the lake, feed the Pawtuckaway River
, which flows southeast to the Lamprey River
in the western part of the town of Epping
. The fourth dam, located at the north end of the lake, releases water to the Bean River
, leading to the North River
and ultimately the Lamprey River in the northern part of Epping. The lake is located in the Piscataqua River
drainage basin
.
Approximately half of the lake's shoreline consists of private homes, a mixture of seasonal and year-round residents. Most of the western side of Pawtuckaway Lake is occupied by Pawtuckaway State Park
, a popular camping, swimming, hiking and orienteering
destination. Canoe orienteering
events are held on the lake.
in the early 19th century. The area was originally composed of many brooks
, which sometimes collected in low spots and formed ponds, such as what was then known as Pawtuckaway Pond. Some of the brooks that ran through the area eventually ran into the Pawtuckaway River
. Both the North River
and the Pawtuckaway River then ran into the Lamprey River
, which created water power for the Newmarket Manufacturing Company, a textile mill. This company, possibly thinking that the water supply was not enough for their needs, came to the area and started to purchase land for a dam and some flooding rights. Two dams were completed around 1836, creating two artificial ponds, one of which was a larger Pawtuckaway Pond. These dams, along with several dikes built to stop the flooding of land that was not purchased, eventually created today's Pawtuckaway Lake.
s, ranging from small rocks protruding from the water to islands large enough to walk around on. These numerous small features make the lake attractive for canoe orienteering. The land mostly surrounded by the lake is the Big Island, which is considered to be an island because of the marshland to the west of it. The southern portion of the Big Island makes up about half of the campsites in Pawtuckaway State Park. The other sites are located on Horse Island and near Neal's Cove. Horse Island, named so because of its shape, is the second largest island in Pawtuckaway Lake after the Big Island. Swimming is not allowed off of shorelines in the state park except at a beach area that has a roped-off section for swimming, picnic areas, and a spot to launch canoes and kayaks.
Rockingham County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 277,359 people, 104,529 households, and 74,320 families residing in the county. The population density was 399 people per square mile . There were 113,023 housing units at an average density of 163 per square mile...
in southeastern New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, in the town of Nottingham
Nottingham, New Hampshire
Nottingham is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,785 at the 2010 census. It is the location of Pawtuckaway State Park.-History:...
. The official name of the lake is Pawtuckaway Pond. The original, natural pond was enlarged in the 19th century by the construction of four dams. Three of the dams, near the southern end of the lake, feed the Pawtuckaway River
Pawtuckaway River
The Pawtuckaway River is a 3.6 mile long river in southeastern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Lamprey River, part of the Great Bay and Piscataqua River watershed leading to the Atlantic Ocean....
, which flows southeast to the Lamprey River
Lamprey River
The Lamprey River is a 50.2 mile long river in southeastern New Hampshire, the United States. It rises in Meadow Lake in Northwood, and flows south, then generally east past Raymond, Epping, Lee and finally Newmarket...
in the western part of the town of Epping
Epping, New Hampshire
Epping is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,411 at the 2010 census. Epping includes the area known as Camp Hedding....
. The fourth dam, located at the north end of the lake, releases water to the Bean River
Bean River
The Bean River is a 7.4 mile long river located in southeastern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the North River, part of the Lamprey River/Great Bay/Piscataqua River watershed leading to the Atlantic Ocean....
, leading to the North River
North River (New Hampshire)
The North River is a 15.1 mile long river located in southeastern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Lamprey River, part of the Great Bay and Piscataqua River watershed leading to the Atlantic Ocean....
and ultimately the Lamprey River in the northern part of Epping. The lake is located in the Piscataqua River
Piscataqua River
The Piscataqua River, in the northeastern United States, is a long tidal estuary formed by the confluence of the Salmon Falls and Cocheco rivers...
drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
.
Approximately half of the lake's shoreline consists of private homes, a mixture of seasonal and year-round residents. Most of the western side of Pawtuckaway Lake is occupied by Pawtuckaway State Park
Pawtuckaway State Park
Pawtuckaway State Park is a preserve in New Hampshire, United States. It is one of the largest state parks in southeastern New Hampshire and is named for Pawtuckaway Lake and the Pawtuckaway Mountains...
, a popular camping, swimming, hiking and orienteering
Orienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
destination. Canoe orienteering
Canoe orienteering
Canoe orienteering is an orienteering sport using a canoe, kayak, or other small boat. Usually, a canoe-O is a timed race in which one- or two-person boats start at staggered intervals, are timed, and are expected to perform all navigation on their own. Portages are allowed. The control points,...
events are held on the lake.
Name
The original pond was called Pawtuckaway Pond, and the name stayed after it was enlarged. According to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, this is still its official name, and anything that uses federal data also uses that name. However, it is usually referred to as Pawtuckaway Lake by residents and organizations, even by Pawtuckaway State Park.History
Pawtuckaway Lake was partially created due to the industrial expansion in nearby NewmarketNewmarket, New Hampshire
Newmarket is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 8,936 at the 2010 census. Some residents are students and employees at the nearby University of New Hampshire in Durham....
in the early 19th century. The area was originally composed of many brooks
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
, which sometimes collected in low spots and formed ponds, such as what was then known as Pawtuckaway Pond. Some of the brooks that ran through the area eventually ran into the Pawtuckaway River
Pawtuckaway River
The Pawtuckaway River is a 3.6 mile long river in southeastern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Lamprey River, part of the Great Bay and Piscataqua River watershed leading to the Atlantic Ocean....
. Both the North River
North River (New Hampshire)
The North River is a 15.1 mile long river located in southeastern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Lamprey River, part of the Great Bay and Piscataqua River watershed leading to the Atlantic Ocean....
and the Pawtuckaway River then ran into the Lamprey River
Lamprey River
The Lamprey River is a 50.2 mile long river in southeastern New Hampshire, the United States. It rises in Meadow Lake in Northwood, and flows south, then generally east past Raymond, Epping, Lee and finally Newmarket...
, which created water power for the Newmarket Manufacturing Company, a textile mill. This company, possibly thinking that the water supply was not enough for their needs, came to the area and started to purchase land for a dam and some flooding rights. Two dams were completed around 1836, creating two artificial ponds, one of which was a larger Pawtuckaway Pond. These dams, along with several dikes built to stop the flooding of land that was not purchased, eventually created today's Pawtuckaway Lake.
Geography
The lake itself contains many shallow parts, where rocks can be seen even in the middle of the lake. It also contains countless small isletIslet
An islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....
s, ranging from small rocks protruding from the water to islands large enough to walk around on. These numerous small features make the lake attractive for canoe orienteering. The land mostly surrounded by the lake is the Big Island, which is considered to be an island because of the marshland to the west of it. The southern portion of the Big Island makes up about half of the campsites in Pawtuckaway State Park. The other sites are located on Horse Island and near Neal's Cove. Horse Island, named so because of its shape, is the second largest island in Pawtuckaway Lake after the Big Island. Swimming is not allowed off of shorelines in the state park except at a beach area that has a roped-off section for swimming, picnic areas, and a spot to launch canoes and kayaks.