Sweetwater is a concrete dam located in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, built in 1922. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 314 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 Sweetwater
The primary purpose of Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater Hydroelectric, Inc. (private). It impounds the Sugar River near Claremont.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 314 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 150 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 270 square miles. Completed in 1922, 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 08/17/2022.
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 | 43.39050, -72.37660 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 314 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Drainage Area | 270 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10,668 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Sweetwater Hydroelectric, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/17/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00140 |
| Federal ID | NH00140 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |