Salmon Falls River Watershed

Locke Brook flows through a series of forested and emergent wetlands, along Wakefield’s western border with Brookfield. Area surrounding these wetlands is mostly forest, with a few cleared lots where the brook crosses into Brookfield to join Pike Brook.

Lovell Lake sits along Lovell Lake Road. It is 554 acres in size and home to six species of game fish. Numerous homes crowd the entire shoreline of the lake, with the highest density along Lovell Lake Road, and in the village of Sanbornville at the western end. A small stream drains the lake in Sanbornville and flows under Wakefield Road. The stream passes under the New Hampshire Northcoast Railroad tracks, and runs behind homes and businesses along Meadow Street. It then crosses Meadow Street and the White Mountain Highway, where it flows into a small marsh and joins Pike Brook.

Pike Brook flows into Wakefield from Brookfield, near several homes on Wentworth Road. It flows through a series of forested wetlands along the White Mountain Highway. The brook passes through a culvert under the highway and flows south, passing several industrial sites, and then crosses the New Hampshire Northcoast Railroad tracks and Wakefield Road. Pike Brook flows into another series of small forested wetlands along the railroad tracks, and then forms Union Meadow Pond at the edge of a wide marsh. The area surrounding this pond is mostly forest and marsh. Its western shore is developed along Wakefield Road, with dozens of homes and several businesses at its southern end. A short stream flows out of Union Meadows Pond near the Wakefield School, and joins Branch River in the village of Union. The river crosses into Wakefield from Middleton, and passes under Wakefield Road and Maple Street. It forms a small reservoir behind a dam along Main Street, where it passes numerous homes and old mill buildings as it flows east. Branch River runs for a quarter mile, through a small forested area between Wakefield Road and White Mountain Highway, and then crosses into Milton on its way to join the Salmon Falls River.

Miller Brook runs out of a forested area south of Lovell Lake Road. It flows through a wetland east of several farms on Willey Road, and then crosses into Milton, on its way to join the Salmon Falls River.

Farnham Brook originates at from a small pond, in a forest east of Oak Hill Road. It flows southeast, and forms a small pond at a beaver dam, near a house on Lovell Lake Road. The brook passes through a culvert under the road, and joins the Salmon Falls River.

Lake Ivanhoe sits between Acton Ridge Road and Round Pond Road, near Wakefield’s eastern border with Maine. The lake shore is completely developed with homes and camps, as well as a 50 site campground on Acton Ridge Road. A small stream drains the lake at its western end. The stream crosses Wansor Road and turns south, flowing through a small area of forest and into Great East Lake. This lake sits across Wakefield’s eastern border with Acton, Maine. It is 1825 acres in size and reaches a depth of 100 feet. The lake is home to 10 species of game fish, including three trout species. A boat launch is located at the southern end of the lake. The shoreline is mostly developed with homes and roads, except for a half mile forested section at its western end. Copp Brook runs into Great East Lake at its western end, near Canal Road. The brook runs east through a small marsh area, crosses the road, and flows into the lake near several homes on Doc Morrison Road. A stream flows out of Great East Lake, over a dam at its southern end. The stream runs southeast for a quarter mile, passing several homes on Canal Road. It then runs into Horn Pond near a small marsh at its northern end. Horn Pond lies across the Wakefield and Acton border. The shores of this 227 acre pond are mostly developed, with homes along Camp Road. The Salmon Falls River runs out of the southern end of the pond, over a dam on Jasper Lane. The river forms Wakefield’s eastern boundary with Maine, as it flows south along Heath Road. It passes a few dozen homes along the road, and then turns west through a small marsh and crosses into Milton.

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Wakefield is a rural community in the headwaters of the Salmon Falls and Little Ossipee, and Branch Rivers. Forestland dominates the landscape which is hilly and includes several large lakes and ponds. Development is concentrated in the villages of Sanbornville, Woodman, East Wakefield, North Wakefield, and Union, and along the major roads and the shores of the lakes.

Though open space is scarce in Wakefield, there was 500 acres of farmland in current use tax status as of 2007. In addition, over 10,000 acres of forestland were registered in current use. However, this designation does not provide permanent protection and incentives to develop may decrease these numbers in the future.

According to census estimates the population of Wakefield in 2006 was 4,736 residents. This is projected to increase to 5,540 by 2015, representing a growth rate of about 17%. While it is likely that some of this growth will be in seasonal homes becoming year round residences, new development will undoubtedly put pressure on the undeveloped parts of town.

Conserved land is sparse in Wakefield. The Moose Mountains Regional Greenways trust manages a small parcel in western Wakefield. In addition there are two private easements along the shores of Lovell Lake.

The water resources in Wakefield provide ample recreational opportunities. There are public swimming spots on Great East, Ivanhoe, and Province Lakes.