Lower Valley is a concrete dam located in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, built in 1921. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 145 ft long, taller than 76% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Lower Valley
The primary purpose of Lower Valley 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 Lower Valley, LLC (private). It impounds the Sugar River near Claremont.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 145 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 24 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 252 square miles. Completed in 1921, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in 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 08/26/2022.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Sullivan |
| Nearest City | Claremont |
| River/Stream | Sugar River |
| Coordinates | 43.37460, -72.34635 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 145 ft |
| Year Completed | 1921 (105 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 24 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 24 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 24 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 252 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,172 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Lower Valley, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00139 |
| Federal ID | NH00139 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |