List of dam removals in New Hampshire
This is a list of dams in New Hampshire that have been removed as physical impediments to free-flowing rivers or streams.
Completed removals
Dam[1] | Height | Year removed | Location | Watercourse | Watershed | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Judd Brook Dam | 5.1 ft (1.6 m) | 2017 | Easton 44°08′46″N 71°46′24″W / 44.1461°N 71.7734°W / 44.1461; -71.7734 (Judd Brook Dam) |
Judd Brook | Ammonoosuc River | Water diversion dam. |
Pearl Lake Brook Dam | 2008 | Lisbon 44°12′25″N 71°53′31″W / 44.2069°N 71.8919°W / 44.2069; -71.8919 (Pearl Lake Brook Dam) |
Pearl Lake Brook | |||
South Branch Gale River Dam | 14 ft (4.3 m) | 2020 | Bethlehem 44°14′32″N 71°38′16″W / 44.2423°N 71.6378°W / 44.2423; -71.6378 (South Branch Gale River Dam) |
South Branch Gale River | Water supply dam owned by Littleton Water and Light. | |
Munn Pond Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2019 | Errol 44°44′07″N 71°11′16″W / 44.7354°N 71.1879°W / 44.7354; -71.1879 (Munn Pond Dam) |
Tributary to Androscoggin River | Androscoggin River | Dam built for recreation and log storage. Owned by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. |
Homestead Woolen Mills Dam | 14 ft (4.3 m) | 2010 | Swanzey 42°52′17″N 72°19′41″W / 42.8714°N 72.3281°W / 42.8714; -72.3281 (Homestead Woolen Mills Dam) |
Ashuelot River | Ashuelot River | |
McGoldrick Dam | 2001 | Hinsdale 42°47′16″N 72°28′14″W / 42.7877°N 72.4706°W / 42.7877; -72.4706 (McGoldrick Dam) |
Owned by the McGoldrick Paper Company. | |||
Winchester Dam | 3 ft (0.91 m) | 2002 | Winchester 42°46′36″N 72°23′00″W / 42.7768°N 72.3834°W / 42.7768; -72.3834 (Winchester Dam) |
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Ferry Brook Dam | 11 ft (3.4 m) | 2019 | Keene 42°58′32″N 72°14′32″W / 42.9755°N 72.2422°W / 42.9755; -72.2422 (Ferry Brook Dam) |
Ferry Brook | Dam built for conservation and agriculture. Owned by the Cheshire County Fish & Game Club. | |
Pine Mill Dam | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2019 | North Haverhill 44°05′21″N 72°01′30″W / 44.0891°N 72.0251°W / 44.0891; -72.0251 (Pine Mill Dam) |
Clark Brook | Connecticut River | Grist mill dam owned by the Connecticut River Conservancy and Mill Dam Water Supply. |
Clark Pond Dam | 2018 | Haverhill 44°05′24″N 71°59′52″W / 44.0899°N 71.9977°W / 44.0899; -71.9977 (Clark Pond Dam) |
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Cold River Dam | 7 ft (2.1 m)[2] | 2003 | Walpole 43°07′49″N 72°25′07″W / 43.1302°N 72.4187°W / 43.1302; -72.4187 (Cold River Dam) |
Cold River | Dam built in the 1970s by Cold River Materials.[2] | |
Lyman Falls Dam Remnant | 4 ft (1.2 m) | 2022 | Columbia 44°46′39″N 71°35′44″W / 44.7774°N 71.5956°W / 44.7774; -71.5956 (Lyman Falls Dam Remnant Removal) |
Connecticut River | Hydroelectric dam owned by the Vermont River Conservancy. | |
Hubner Pond Dam | 30 ft (9.1 m) | 2019 | Chesterfield 42°52′16″N 72°28′09″W / 42.8711°N 72.4691°W / 42.8711; -72.4691 (Hubner Pond Dam) |
Tributary to Hubbard Brook | Dam built for recreation. | |
Butternut Pond Dam | 2013 | Grantham 43°33′13″N 72°07′51″W / 43.5536°N 72.1308°W / 43.5536; -72.1308 (Butternut Pond Dam) |
Butternut Brook | Sugar River | Owned by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. | |
Stevens Brook Dam | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 2011 | Claremont 43°23′15″N 72°21′05″W / 43.3876°N 72.3513°W / 43.3876; -72.3513 (Stevens Brook Dam) |
Stevens Brook | Fish rearing pond dam. | |
West Henniker Dam | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2004 | Henniker 43°09′55″N 71°50′34″W / 43.1654°N 71.8427°W / 43.1654; -71.8427 (West Henniker Dam) |
Contoocook River | Contoocook River | Paper mill dam owned by the Town of Henniker. |
Greene Wildlife Pond Dam (Ainsworth Pond Dam) | 13 ft (4.0 m) | 2015 | Jaffrey 42°49′16″N 72°03′28″W / 42.821°N 72.0578°W / 42.821; -72.0578 (Greene Wildlife Pond Dam (Ainsworth Pond Dam)) |
Stony Brook | Dam built for recreation and wildlife. | |
Beaver Lake Dam | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 2012 | Derry 42°54′06″N 71°17′57″W / 42.9016°N 71.2992°W / 42.9016; -71.2992 (Beaver Lake Dam) |
Beaver Brook | Merrimack River | Water supply dam for the Benjamin Chase Mill. Owned by the Town of Derry. |
Berry Brook Reservoir Dam | 2013 | Pittsfield 43°17′28″N 71°18′04″W / 43.2911°N 71.3010°W / 43.2911; -71.3010 (Berry Brook Reservoir Dam) |
Berry Pond Brook | |||
Maxwell Pond Dam | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2009 | Manchester 43°00′37″N 71°28′45″W / 43.0103°N 71.4791°W / 43.0103; -71.4791 (Maxwell Pond Dam) |
Black Brook | The dam was originally constructed to create Maxwell Pond on Black Brook in 1900 for the purpose of ice harvesting. Owned by the City of Manchester. | |
Heads Pond Dam | 9 ft (2.7 m) | 2010 | Hooksett 43°06′31″N 71°26′55″W / 43.1086°N 71.4485°W / 43.1086; -71.4485 (Heads Pond Dam) |
Browns Brook | ||
Jenkins Road McQuade Brook Dam | 14 ft (4.3 m) | 2012 | Bedford 42°54′20″N 71°31′25″W / 42.9056°N 71.5237°W / 42.9056; -71.5237 (Jenkins Road McQuade Brook Dam) |
McQuade Brook | Dam built for transportation, owned by the Town of Bedford. | |
McQuesten Dam #1 | 4 ft (1.2 m) | 2016 | Manchester 42°58′10″N 71°28′52″W / 42.9694°N 71.4811°W / 42.9694; -71.4811 (McQuesten Dam #1) |
McQuesten Brook | ||
McQuesten Dam #2 | 5 ft (1.5 m) | 2016 | Manchester 42°58′08″N 71°28′53″W / 42.969°N 71.4813°W / 42.969; -71.4813 (McQuesten Dam #2) |
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McQuesten Dam #3 | 2.5 ft (0.76 m) | 2016 | Manchester 42°58′04″N 71°28′52″W / 42.9679°N 71.4812°W / 42.9679; -71.4812 (McQuesten Dam #3) |
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South Main Street Dam | 2.5 ft (0.76 m) | 2016 | Manchester 42°58′06″N 71°28′56″W / 42.9682°N 71.4821°W / 42.9682; -71.4821 (South Main Street Dam) |
Stormwater retention dam. | ||
Magazine Street Dam | 2014 | Bedford 42°57′26″N 71°32′33″W / 42.9573°N 71.5426°W / 42.9573; -71.5426 (Magazine Street Dam) |
Riddle Brook | |||
Merrimack Village Dam | 2008 | Merrimack 42°51′37″N 71°29′36″W / 42.8604°N 71.4932°W / 42.8604; -71.4932 (Merrimack Village Dam) |
Souhegan River | Grist mill dam later used as a water supply. | ||
Anne Jackson Girl Scout Dam | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 2012 | Wilton 42°49′46″N 71°46′04″W / 42.8295°N 71.7679°W / 42.8295; -71.7679 (Anne Jackson Girl Scout Dam) |
Tributary to Souhegan River | Dam built for recreation. Owned by the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains. | |
Buck Street Dam West | 12 ft (3.7 m) | 2011 | Pembroke 43°09′34″N 71°24′27″W / 43.1595°N 71.4074°W / 43.1595; -71.4074 (Buck Street Dam West) |
Suncook River | ||
Tannery Brook Dam | 19 ft (5.8 m) | 2015 | Boscawen 43°20′32″N 71°41′01″W / 43.3421°N 71.6837°W / 43.3421; -71.6837 (Tannery Brook Dam) |
Tannery Brook | Dam built for recreation and wildlife. | |
Boyce Pond Dam/Horseshoe Pond Dam | 11 ft (3.4 m) | 2014 | Fitzwilliam 42°45′12″N 72°10′19″W / 42.7533°N 72.1719°W / 42.7533; -72.1719 (Boyce Pond Dam/Horseshoe Pond Dam) |
Tributary to Kemp Brook | Millers River | Mill dam. |
Upper IPC Dam | 2008 | Bristol 43°36′24″N 71°44′32″W / 43.6068°N 71.7422°W / 43.6068; -71.7422 (Upper IPC Dam) |
Newfound River | Pemigewasset River | ||
Bellamy River Dam V | 4 ft (1.2 m) | 2004 | Dover 43°10′35″N 70°52′18″W / 43.1763°N 70.8717°W / 43.1763; -70.8717 (Bellamy River Dam V) |
Bellamy River | Piscataqua River | |
Lower Sawyer Mill Dam | 18 ft (5.5 m) | 2018 | Dover 43°10′42″N 70°52′30″W / 43.1783°N 70.875°W / 43.1783; -70.875 (Lower Sawyer Mill Dam) |
Mill dams that powered Sawyer Woolen Mills. | ||
Upper Sawyer Mill Dam | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2019 | Dover 43°10′44″N 70°52′36″W / 43.179°N 70.8766°W / 43.179; -70.8766 (Upper Sawyer Mill Dam) | |||
Union Village Dam | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2014 | Winchester 43°29′42″N 71°01′34″W / 43.4951°N 71.0262°W / 43.4951; -71.0262 (Union Village Dam) |
Branch River | Hydropower dam. | |
Champlin Pond Dam #1 | 2005 | Rochester 43°16′15″N 70°55′53″W / 43.2708°N 70.9313°W / 43.2708; -70.9313 (Champlin Pond Dam #1) |
Clark Brook | |||
Champlin Pond Dam #2 | 2005 | Rochester 43°16′35″N 70°55′54″W / 43.2764°N 70.9317°W / 43.2764; -70.9317 (Champlin Pond Dam #2) |
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Great Dam | 16 ft (4.9 m) | 2016 | Exeter 42°58′53″N 70°56′40″W / 42.9813°N 70.9445°W / 42.9813; -70.9445 (Great Dam) |
Exeter River | Industrial dam. | |
Bunker Pond Dam | 16 ft (4.9 m) | 2011 | Epping 43°02′25″N 71°07′46″W / 43.0403°N 71.1294°W / 43.0403; -71.1294 (Bunker Pond Dam) |
Lamprey River | Owned by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. | |
Rex Tannery Dam | 2010 | Raymond 43°02′06″N 71°11′20″W / 43.0349°N 71.189°W / 43.0349; -71.189 (Rex Tannery Dam) |
Tributary to Lamprey River | |||
Little Hale Pond Dam | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2019 | Durham 43°08′35″N 70°55′17″W / 43.143°N 70.9213°W / 43.143; -70.9213 (Little Hale Pond Dam) |
Littlehole Creek | Dam built for recreation, owned by Durham Public Works. | |
Lower Peverly Pond Dam | 2021 | Newington 43°05′00″N 70°50′32″W / 43.0833°N 70.8423°W / 43.0833; -70.8423 (Lower Peverly Pond Dam) |
Peverly Brook | Water supply dam owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. | ||
Winnicut River Dam | 14 ft (4.3 m) | 2009 | Greenland 43°02′12″N 70°50′52″W / 43.0368°N 70.8477°W / 43.0368; -70.8477 (Winnicut River Dam) |
Winnicut River | Owned by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. | |
Bearcamp River Dam | 20 ft (6.1 m) | 2003 | South Tamworth 43°49′41″N 71°17′55″W / 43.8281°N 71.2987°W / 43.8281; -71.2987 (Bearcamp River Dam) |
Bearcamp River | Saco River | |
Badger Pond Dam | 18 ft (5.5 m) | 2004 | Belmont 43°27′08″N 71°28′08″W / 43.4521°N 71.4689°W / 43.4521; -71.4689 (Badger Pond Dam) |
Tioga River | Winnipesaukee River |
Planned and proposed removals
Dam[3] | Expected year | Location | Watercourse | Watershed | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fiske Mill Dam | 2024 | Hinsdale 42°47′09″N 72°28′53″W / 42.7857°N 72.4814°W / 42.7857; -72.4814 (Fiske Mill Dam) |
Ashuelot River | Connecticut River | Mill dam built in 1922, converted into a hydroelectric dam in 1986. As of April 2023[update], The Nature Conservancy was in talks to purchase and remove the dam.[4] |
Israel River Dam | Lancaster 44°29′06″N 71°33′45″W / 44.4849°N 71.5625°W / 44.4849; -71.5625 (Israel River Dam) |
Israel River | |||
Kimball Brook Dam | 2023 | Stratford 44°44′30″N 71°35′57″W / 44.7418°N 71.5993°W / 44.7418; -71.5993 (Kimball Brook Dam) |
Kimball Brook | [5] | |
Washburn Mill Dam | 2023 | Colebrook 44°52′36″N 71°22′16″W / 44.8766°N 71.3711°W / 44.8766; -71.3711 (Washburn Mill Dam) |
Mohawk River | [6] | |
Brennan Brook/Crochet Mountain Brook Dam | 2024 | Francestown | Brennan Brook | Merrimack River | [7] |
Breeder Pond Dam (Highway Pond Dam) | Franconia 44°10′02″N 71°40′49″W / 44.1672°N 71.6804°W / 44.1672; -71.6804 (Breeder Pond Dam) |
Pemigewasset River | The project would remove the dam and replace it with a fish ladder. This would allow trout to move freely between Breeder Pond and Profile Lake, with the intention of creating a self-sustaining population and ending the need for stocking.[8] | ||
Stone Pond Dam | 2024 | Fitzwilliam 42°45′18″N 72°07′37″W / 42.7550°N 72.1270°W / 42.7550; -72.1270 (Stone Pond Dam) |
Scott Brook | Millers River | |
Gonic Dam | Gonic 43°16′25″N 70°58′38″W / 43.2735°N 70.9773°W / 43.2735; -70.9773 (Gonic Dam) |
Cochecho River | Piscataqua River | Rochester City Council voted unanimously to pursue dam removal in 2010.[9] As of 2023[update], the dams are owned by a developer who wants to remove them before building housing in the area.[10] | |
Gonic Sawmill Dam | Gonic 43°16′13″N 70°58′35″W / 43.2704°N 70.9764°W / 43.2704; -70.9764 (Gonic Sawmill Dam) | ||||
Mill Pond Dam | 2024 | Durham 43°07′51″N 70°55′08″W / 43.1309°N 70.9189°W / 43.1309; -70.9189 (Mill Pond Dam) |
Oyster River | [11][12] | |
Beech River Mill Dam | Ossipee 43°45′03″N 71°08′22″W / 43.7507°N 71.1395°W / 43.7507; -71.1395 (Beech River Mill Dam) |
Beech River | Saco River | In 2020 the Davis Conservation Foundation granted the New Hampshire Chapter of The Nature Conservancy $15,000 toward a dam removal assessment.[13] |
References
- ^ "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare. American Rivers. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ a b "DAMS SLATED FOR REMOVAL IN 2007 AND DAMS REMOVED FROM 1999-2006" (PDF). American Rivers. p. 32. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- ^ "Projects: Planned, Completed and Under Consideration" (PDF). New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. January 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ Browder, Jamie (26 April 2023). "Nature Conservancy studying removal of Fiske Mill Dam in Hinsdale". The Keene Sentinel. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Grant F22AP02005 (Connecticut River Watershed Council)". www.highergov.com. HigherGov. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Washburn Dam Removal on the Mohawk River". FWS.gov. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Over $200,000 Awarded from Aquatic Resource Mitigation Funds for Dam Removal and Partial Restoration of Brennan Brook in Francestown". NH Department of Environmental Services. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Blechl, Robert (3 January 2022). "Coordinator Details Trout Breeder Pond Project In Franconia Notch". Caledonian Record. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ O'Donnell, Jake (9 September 2010). "Gonic dams removal grant sought". Foster's Daily Democrat. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Dandurant, Karen (22 March 2023). "Gonic Mill owner wants to build housing. Two dams must be removed first". Foster's Daily Democrat. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Fernandes, Megan (17 September 2021). "'State of disrepair': Durham makes call to remove Mill Pond dam on Oyster River". Foster's Daily Democrat. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Dandurant, Karen (8 March 2022). "Durham votes to remove Mill Pond dam with 74% of vote and large turnout". Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Grant History". www.davisfoundations.org. Davis Conservation Foundation. Retrieved 14 September 2023.