Noone Mills dam
Noone Mills
Noone Mills, a privately owned hydroelectric dam located in Peterborough, New Hampshire, has been a significant part of the region's water resource infrastructure since its completion in 1938. The dam stands at a height of 13.7 feet, with a length of 176 feet, and a storage capacity of 135 acre-feet. Situated on the Contoocook River, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and providing hydroelectric power to the area.
Managed by the NHDES Dam Bureau and regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Noone Mills has a spillway width of 102 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 8800 cubic feet per second. With a significant hazard potential, the dam undergoes regular inspections and is equipped with a vertical lift outlet gate to ensure operational safety. Despite its age, the dam continues to contribute to the region's water resource management and renewable energy production.
As a concrete gravity dam with masonry components, Noone Mills exemplifies the blend of traditional engineering techniques with modern regulatory standards. Its location within the Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, underscores the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam serves as a reminder of the intricate balance between harnessing water resources for energy production while safeguarding against potential hazards.
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 Noone Mills -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Contoocook River At Peterborough | 107 cfs | → |
| Nubanusit Bk Blw Macdowell Dam Nr Peterborough Nh | 31 cfs | → |
| S Br Ashuelot River At Webb | 25 cfs | → |
| Souhegan River (Site Wlr-1) Near Milford | 168 cfs | → |
| Millers River Near Winchendon | 100 cfs | → |
| Priest Brook Near Winchendon | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Noone Mills .
Boat launches
- Cunningham Pond Boat Launch
- Frost Pond Boat Launch
- Macdowell Reservoir Boat Launch
- Thorndike Pond Boat Launch
- Contoocook Lake Boat Launch
- Grassy Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Camp Wanocksett
- Mt Monadnock State Park Campground
- Lake Dennison State Park
- North Dennison Camping Area
- East Dennison Camping Area
- Damon Pond Campground
Paddle runs
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
Track Noone Mills 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 Noone Mills
Where does the data for Noone Mills 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 Noone Mills .