Paper Mill Dam dam
Paper Mill Dam
Paper Mill Dam, located in Bennington, New Hampshire, is a privately owned concrete dam built in 1922 primarily for hydroelectric purposes on the Contoocook River. With a height of 13 feet and a length of 280 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet and serves a drainage area of 191 square miles. Despite being classified as having low hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment is moderate, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and management measures.
The dam is regulated by the New Hampshire Dam Bureau and undergoes state inspection, permitting, and enforcement. While its condition assessment is currently not rated, the last inspection in May 2014 revealed no immediate concerns. With a spillway type listed as uncontrolled, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are unspecified. The dam's association with the New England District of the US Army Corps of Engineers is noted as non-existent, suggesting a reliance on state oversight for its operation and maintenance.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management and regulatory aspects of dam infrastructure will find Paper Mill Dam a fascinating case study. Its historical significance, hydroelectric purpose, and location on the Contoocook River make it a valuable component of New Hampshire's water resource infrastructure. As the dam continues to age, maintaining its safety and integrity will be crucial for both the surrounding community and the environment it serves.
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 Paper Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch River Near Antrim | 61 cfs | → |
| Nubanusit Bk Blw Macdowell Dam Nr Peterborough Nh | 31 cfs | → |
| Contoocook River At Peterborough | 118 cfs | → |
| Contoocook River Near Henniker | 782 cfs | → |
| South Branch Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 143 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Bl Everett Dam | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Paper Mill Dam.
Boat launches
- Contoocook River (Powder Mill Pond) Boat Launch
- Norway Pond Boat Launch
- Gregg Lake Boat Launch
- Nubanusit Lake Boat Launch
- Zephyr Lake Boat Launch
- Franklin Pierce Lake Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Camp Wanocksett
- Mt Monadnock State Park Campground
- Fox Brook Tent Site
- Mile-Away Campground
- Wheelock Park Campground
- Pilgrim Pines Camping Area
Paddle runs
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- Headwaters To Crossing Of Route 100 Near Route 155
Track Paper Mill Dam 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 Paper Mill Dam
Where does the data for Paper Mill Dam 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 Paper Mill Dam.