Vilas Pool Dam
Vilas Pool Dam is a concrete dam located in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, built in 1866. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Vilas Pool Dam
The primary purpose of Vilas Pool Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Alstead (local government). It impounds the Cold River near Alstead.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 135 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 72 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 61 square miles. Completed in 1866, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/11/2021.
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Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Cheshire |
| Nearest City | Alstead |
| River/Stream | Cold River |
| Coordinates | 43.15382, -72.34803 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 135 ft |
| Year Completed | 1866 (160 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 45 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 61 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,002 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | TOWN OF ALSTEAD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/11/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00009 |
| Federal ID | NH00009 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |