Garvins Falls
Garvins Falls is a masonry dam located in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, built in 1901. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Garvins Falls
The primary purpose of Garvins Falls is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. It impounds the Merrimack River near Bow.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 645 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 504 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2,427 square miles. Completed in 1901, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. 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 05/15/2018.
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Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Merrimack |
| Nearest City | Bow |
| River/Stream | Merrimack River |
| Coordinates | 43.16550, -71.50950 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 645 ft |
| Year Completed | 1901 (125 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 504 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2,427 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 113,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner Type | Not Listed |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/15/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00090 |
| Federal ID | NH00090 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |