Northwood Lake NH

Northwood Lake is located in Rockingham and Merrimack counties in south central New Hampshire, United States. The towns of Deerfield, Epsom, and Northwood have shorelines on the lake. A dammed outlet of the lake flows into the Little Suncook River, flowing west to the Suncook River, a tributary of the Merrimack River.

Northwood Lake functions as the final settling basin for several other bodies of water in its 6,226 hectares watershed.

Coordinates:43:3N, 71:5W; 518 feet above sea level

History

The town of Northwood was first known to colonial settlers as the "North Woods" of Nottingham. Northwood residents petitioned the Governor's Council and in 1773 became the town of Northwood.

Northwood Lake was first called Suncook Pond. In 1929 it was renamed Northwood Lake by the state legislature to avoid confusion with the Suncook ponds in Barnstead.

The dam at the end of the lake was constructed in 1926 by the Suncook Mills. In 1957 it was purchased by the State of NH.

Lake Basics

Northwood Lake is 686 Acres
The maximum depth of the lake is just over 20 feet.
The average depth is 10 feet.
The NH DES lowers the lake by 5-6 ft in the fall. This is done to reduce ice damage to the shorelines and reduce the effects of spring flooding.
Primary Inflows:

Narrows Brook

Flat Meadow Brook

Griffin Brook

Gulf Brook

Sagamore Brook

Nature

Northwood Lake's east/west orientation makes for magnificent sunsets particularly in the summer months.

The lake serves as seasonal and year-round home to many birds and waterfowl including: The common loon, bald eagle, great blue heron, merganser ducks.

The lake is also know for fishing and hosts several tournaments during the year. Species include: small & large mouth bass, white & yellow perch, eastern chain pickerel & fall fish.