Garvins Falls dam
Garvins Falls
Garvins Falls in Bow, New Hampshire, is a captivating hydroelectric dam located on the Merrimack River. Built in 1901, this masonry dam stands at 18 feet tall and stretches 645 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 7,200 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation, with a maximum discharge capacity of 113,000 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Garvins Falls is state-regulated by the NHDES Dam Bureau, ensuring proper inspection, enforcement, and permitting. Despite being categorized as low hazard potential, the risk assessment for this dam is considered moderate. With its uncontrolled spillway measuring 550 feet wide, Garvins Falls plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Garvins Falls offers a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of renewable energy production, infrastructure management, and environmental stewardship. With its historic significance, impressive engineering design, and ongoing regulatory oversight, this dam serves as a vital component of the Merrimack River ecosystem and a symbol of sustainable water resource utilization in New Hampshire.
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 Garvins Falls -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Soucook River | 22 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Bl Everett Dam | 8 cfs | → |
| Suncook River At North Chichester | 221 cfs | → |
| Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 137 cfs | → |
| Contoocook R Bl Hopkinton Dam At W Hopkinton | 758 cfs | → |
| South Branch Piscataquog River Near Goffstown | 127 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Garvins Falls .
Boat launches
- Turee Pond Boat Launch
- Merrimack River Boat Launch
- Turtle Pond Boat Launch
- Kimball Pond Boat Launch
- Hot Hole Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Camp Spaulding
- Mile-Away Campground
- Saddleback Campground
- Remote Campsite
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
- Old Stage Campground
Track Garvins 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 Garvins Falls
Where does the data for Garvins 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 Garvins Falls .