Pawtuckaway Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Pawtuckaway Lake
image_lake = Pawtuckaway_Lake.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Rockingham County, New Hampshire
coords = coord|43|5|20|N|71|8|19|W|type:waterbody_region:US|display=inline,title
type =
inflow = Mountain Brook; Round Pond Brook; Back Creek
outflow = North outlet: tributary of Bean River
South outlet: Pawtuckaway River
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length = convert|3.5|mi|abbr=on|lk=on
width = convert|1.1|mi|abbr=on|lk=on
area = convert|783|acre|km2
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = convert|250|ft|abbr=on|lk=on
islands = Big Island; Log Cabin Island; Horse Island; numerous islets
cities = Nottingham__NOTOC__Pawtuckaway Lake is a convert|783|acre|km2|sing=on [ [http://www.granit.sr.unh.edu New Hampshire GRANIT database] ] 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. [gnis|871285|Pawtuckaway Pond] The original, natural pond was enlarged in the 1800s 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. Both foot orienteering and canoe orienteering events are held here, on orienteering maps developed by local orienteering enthusiasts.

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 [ [http://www.nhstateparks.com/paw.html Pawtuckaway State Park & Campground - Nottingham, NH] ] .

History

Pawtuckaway Lake was partially created due to the industrial expansion in nearby Newmarket in the early 1800s. [ [http://www.nottingham-nh.gov/Pages/NottinghamNH_Historic/townhistory Town of Nottingham, NH - Town History] ] 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 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 islets, ranging from small rocks protruding from the water to islands large enough to walk around on. 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 sites in the state park but there is a beach area, which has a roped-off section for swimming, picnic areas and a spot to launch canoes and kayaks.

References