Sweetwater dam
Sweetwater
Sweetwater, also known as Coy Paper Mill, is a privately owned hydroelectric dam located in Claremont, New Hampshire. Built in 1922, this concrete gravity dam stands at a height of 36 feet and has a length of 314 feet. It has a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet and serves the primary purpose of generating hydroelectric power from the Sugar River.
Managed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau, Sweetwater is regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its safety and compliance with federal regulations. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 143 feet, and it has an other controlled outlet gate. While the dam has a significant hazard potential, its risk assessment is moderate, and it has not been assessed for condition as of the latest available data in 2019.
Overall, Sweetwater plays a crucial role in harnessing renewable energy from the Sugar River while being closely monitored for safety and regulatory compliance. Its historical significance as a source of hydroelectric power highlights its importance in sustainable water resource management and climate action efforts 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 Sweetwater -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar River At West Claremont | 555 cfs | → |
| Black River At North Springfield | 271 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River At North Hartland | 427 cfs | → |
| Williams River Near Rockingham Vt | 170 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At West Lebanon | 9,730 cfs | → |
| Saxtons River At Saxtons River | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sweetwater.
Boat launches
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Crescent Lake Boat Launch
- Perkins Pond Boat Launch
- Lake Coniston (Long Pond) Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Mt. Ascutney State Park
- Ascutney Mt Stone Hut
- Tree Farm Campground
- Northstar Campground
- Quechee State Park
- Horseshoe Acres Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Crossing Of Route 100 Near Route 155
- Confluence With Otter Creek To Ten Kilns Brook
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- Headwaters To Woodstock, Vt
- South Wallington To Emerald Lake
Track Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater
Where does the data for Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater.