Bellows Falls
Bellows Falls is a concrete dam located in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, built in 1907. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bellows Falls
The primary purpose of Bellows Falls 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 Great River Hydro, Llc (private). It impounds the Connecticut River near Bellows Falls, Vt.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 643 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,804 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 30,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5,414 square miles. Completed in 1907, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 06/08/2022.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Cheshire |
| Nearest City | Bellows Falls, Vt |
| River/Stream | Connecticut River |
| Coordinates | 43.13784, -72.44683 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 643 ft |
| Year Completed | 1907 (119 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 30,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 30,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 30,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,804 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5,414 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 157,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Great River Hydro, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/08/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00112 |
| Federal ID | NH00112 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |