Bethel Mills

Bethel Mills is a concrete dam located in Windsor County, Vermont, built in 1940. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Bethel Mills

The primary purpose of Bethel Mills is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Bethel Mills Electric, Llc (private). It impounds the Third Branch White River near Bethel.

The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 50 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 136 square miles. Completed in 1940, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

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. The most recent inspection on record was 07/27/2022.

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Low HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateVermont
CountyWindsor
Nearest CityBethel
River/StreamThird Branch White River
Coordinates43.83200, -72.63460

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeConcrete
NID Height17 ft
Dam Height17 ft
Dam Length150 ft
Year Completed1940 (86 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage50 acre-ft
Max Storage50 acre-ft
Normal Storage50 acre-ft
Surface Area10 acres
Drainage Area136 sq mi
Max Discharge1,485 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeHydroelectric
OwnerBethel Mills Electric, LLC
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection07/27/2022
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDVT00190
Federal IDVT00190
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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