China Mill Dam dam
China Mill Dam
China Mill Dam, located in Pembroke, New Hampshire, is a privately owned hydroelectric dam on the Suncook River with a rich history dating back to its completion in 1917. The dam stands at a height of 29 feet and stretches 275 feet in length, serving as a vital source of energy production in the region. With a storage capacity of 33 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 16,770 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and supporting local communities.
Managed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau, China Mill Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its structural integrity and environmental impact. Despite being categorized as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition, with a moderate risk rating. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 143 feet, further emphasizing the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring to mitigate any potential risks posed to surrounding areas. Overall, China Mill Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management, climate resilience, and sustainable energy production in the region.
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 China Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Soucook River | 22 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 137 cfs | → |
| Suncook River At North Chichester | 221 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Bl Everett Dam | 8 cfs | → |
| South Branch Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 127 cfs | → |
| Merrimack R Nr Goffs Falls | 8,350 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near China Mill Dam.
Boat launches
- Turee Pond Boat Launch
- Kimball Pond Boat Launch
- Merrimack River Boat Launch
- Deer Meadow Pond Boat Launch
- Massabesic Lake Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Camp Spaulding
- Saddleback Campground
- Remote Campsite
- Mile-Away Campground
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
- Old Stage Campground
Paddle runs
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- Thornton Railroad Bridge To Bridgewater/Bristol Town Line
More reservoirs
Track China 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 China Mill Dam
Where does the data for China 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 High 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 China Mill Dam.