Mine Falls dam
Mine Falls
Mine Falls in Nashua, New Hampshire, is a historic masonry dam constructed in 1889 primarily for hydroelectric purposes. This dam on the Nashua River also serves for recreation and water supply, showcasing its versatility in meeting various community needs. With a height of 16 feet and a length of 325 feet, Mine Falls has a storage capacity of 1970 NID and a maximum discharge of 8981.
Managed by the NHDES Dam Bureau and regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Mine Falls has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 132 feet and several outlet gates for controlled water release. While its condition assessment is not available, Mine Falls undergoes regular inspections and has an emergency action plan in place to ensure public safety in case of any unforeseen events.
Despite its age, Mine Falls continues to play a crucial role in the local landscape, offering both functional and recreational benefits to the community. As a key water resource infrastructure in the region, this historic dam stands as a testament to the harmonious integration of human development with natural resources, embodying the balance between water management and environmental stewardship in the face of evolving climate challenges.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Mine Falls -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nashua River At East Pepperell | 531 cfs | → |
| Souhegan River At Merrimack | 256 cfs | → |
| Beaver Brook At North Pelham | 35 cfs | → |
| Squannacook River Near West Groton | 83 cfs | → |
| Souhegan River (Site Wlr-1) Near Milford | 181 cfs | → |
| Merrimack River Bl Concord River At Lowell | 11,800 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mine Falls .
Boat launches
- Winchester Street Boat Launch
- Flints Pond Boat Launch
- Greeley Ramp Road Nashua
- Claveau Landing
- Naticook Lake Boat Launch
- Musquash Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Grotonwood
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
- Pearl Hill Campground
- Damon Pond Campground
- Camp Evergreen
- Camp Wanocksett
Paddle runs
Track Mine Falls in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Mine Falls
Where does the data for Mine Falls come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Mine Falls .