Mine Falls is a masonry dam located in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, built in 1889. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 16 ft16 ft tall and 325 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 Mine Falls
The primary purpose of Mine 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 City of Nashua, Nh (local government). It impounds the Nashua River near Nashua.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 325 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 242 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,970 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 405 square miles. Completed in 1889, 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 07/18/2022.
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Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Hillsborough |
| Nearest City | Nashua |
| River/Stream | Nashua River |
| Coordinates | 42.74981, -71.50451 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 325 ft |
| Year Completed | 1889 (137 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,970 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,970 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,970 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 242 acres |
| Drainage Area | 405 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,981 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | City of Nashua, Nh |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/18/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00116 |
| Federal ID | NH00116 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |