Pickpocket Dam

Project Type:

Land Use

Project Status:

Approved

Pickpocket Dam was declared a "High Hazard" dam by the NH Department of Environmental Services in October of 2019. The town is looking at alternatives to address the issue. Find more documentation below.

Status Updates

8/17/2026: A Public Information Meeting will be held on Thursday, August 20th 2026 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.
The preliminary design stage for the Pickpocket Dam Removal project is nearing completion. The design consultant has been advancing the engineering design and associated site restoration to the 60% design stage.
As part of this phase, the project team will host a public meeting to provide an update on the current design, discuss next steps in the design process, and to hear comments and take questions from the community. The project update will repeat the information supplied to the River Advisory Committee (RAC) on July 16, 2026.

6/2/2026: The Pickpocket Dam Removal - Progress Prints dated 4/17 has been added below.

5/26/2026: The meeting presentation from 5/21/26 has been added below.

10/22/2025: A Public Information meeting has been scheduled for Saturday, November 1, 2025 ON SITE (42 Cross Rd). Review the attached flyer for other details.

11/20/2024: A Public Information Session has been scheduled for Tuesday, December 10th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m at the Exeter Public Library.

5/31/2024: The Pickpocket Dam Feasibility Study presentation to the Select Board on Tuesday, May 28th has been add as well as a link to the Select Board Meeting.

4/3/2024: The Pickpocket Dam River Advisory Committee Feasibility Study presentation has been added to the files section below.

3/4/2024: The handout and presentation from the Public Meeting have been added to this site for review.
The Draft Technical Report for the Pickpocket Dam Feasibility Study dated February 20th, 2024 has been added to this site for review. For questions, comments, or concerns please email pickpocketdam@exeternh.gov.
**The study can also be reviewed at the Exeter Public Library.
Public Informational Meeting
Tuesday, February 27th ~ 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
at the Exeter Town Hall located at 9 Front Street
We hope that you will be able to attend. Public participation is critical to ensuring that the feasibility study will be thorough, accurate and responsive to the community’s needs. Comments and questions can be submitted via email to the Town at publicworks@exeternh.gov or mailed to 13 Newfields Road, Exeter, NH 03833.
The meeting will be televised on channel 22 as well as ExeterTV on youtube. Meeting details can be found on the event page.