Cheshire is a masonry dam located in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, built in 1939. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 13 ft13 ft tall and 255 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Cheshire
The primary purpose of Cheshire 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 D.d. Bean & Sons Company, Inc. (private). It impounds the Contoocook River near Jaffrey.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 255 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 57 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 342 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 36 square miles. Completed in 1939, 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 08/25/2022.
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Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Cheshire |
| Nearest City | Jaffrey |
| River/Stream | Contoocook River |
| Coordinates | 42.81700, -72.00870 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 255 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 342 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 342 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 342 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 57 acres |
| Drainage Area | 36 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | D.d. Bean & Sons Company, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/25/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00071 |
| Federal ID | NH00071 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |