Stevens Mill dam
Stevens Mill
Stevens Mill, also known as Franklin Dam, is a private hydroelectric facility located in Franklin, New Hampshire. Constructed in 1930, this concrete gravity dam stands at a height of 22 feet and spans 112 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 6.85 acre-feet and the ability to discharge up to 2600 cubic feet per second, Stevens Mill plays a significant role in harnessing hydropower from the Winnipesaukee River.
Managed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau and regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Stevens Mill is deemed to have a significant hazard potential. Despite its age, the dam's condition assessment is not available, and there are no specific risk management measures outlined. Emergency action plans have been prepared and reviewed periodically, with the last revision in December 2020, to ensure the safety and functionality of the dam in case of an unforeseen event.
Stevens Mill serves as a crucial part of New Hampshire's water resource infrastructure, contributing to the state's renewable energy portfolio through hydroelectric power generation. As climate and water resource enthusiasts, it is important to monitor and advocate for the proper maintenance and regulation of dams like Stevens Mill to ensure their continued effectiveness and safety in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Stevens Mill -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Merrimack River At Franklin Junction | 4,850 cfs | → |
| Winnipesaukee River At Tilton | 1,610 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Bristol | 160 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Webster | 19 cfs | → |
| Warner River At Davisville | 348 cfs | → |
| Soucook River | 22 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stevens Mill .
Boat launches
- Webster Lake Boat Launch
- Giles Pond Boat Launch
- Winnipesaukee River Boat Launch
- Highland Lake Boat Launch
- Merrimack River Boat Launch
- Laconia Road 905, Tilton
Campgrounds
- Camp Spaulding
- Camp Wilmot
- Clark Brook Campsite
- Cardigan Campsites
- Mile-Away Campground
- Owl's Landing Campground
Paddle runs
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- Thornton Railroad Bridge To Bridgewater/Bristol Town Line
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
- Headwaters At Profile Lake To Southern Boundary Of Franconia Notch State Park
Track Stevens Mill 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 Stevens Mill
Where does the data for Stevens Mill 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 Significant 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 Stevens Mill .