Beech River Mill Dam
Beech River Mill Dam is a concrete dam located in Carroll County, New Hampshire, built in 1851. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Beech River Mill Dam
The primary purpose of Beech River Mill Dam 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 Dro Corp Dba Beech River Mill (private). It impounds the Beech River near Ossipee.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 61 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 0 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 33 square miles. Completed in 1851, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/26/2022.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The New Hampshire dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Carroll |
| Nearest City | Ossipee |
| River/Stream | Beech River |
| Coordinates | 43.75067, -71.13964 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 61 ft |
| Year Completed | 1851 (175 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 0 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 0 acres |
| Drainage Area | 33 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 700 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | DRO CORP DBA BEECH RIVER MILL |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NH00819 |
| Federal ID | NH00819 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |