Arlington Mills Res Wheeler Dam
Arlington Mills Res Wheeler Dam is a concrete dam located in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, built in 1922. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Arlington Mills Res Wheeler Dam
The primary purpose of Arlington Mills Res Wheeler Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Town Of Salem (local government). It impounds the Spickett River near Salem.
The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 320 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,530 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 20 square miles. Completed in 1922, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/24/2022.
At 54 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The New Hampshire dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Rockingham |
| Nearest City | Salem |
| River/Stream | Spickett River |
| Coordinates | 42.81690, -71.20360 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,530 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,530 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 320 acres |
| Drainage Area | 20 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,240 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | TOWN OF SALEM |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00028 |
| Federal ID | NH00028 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |