Town of Goffstown - Piscataquog River Dam Information

 

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries - Merrimack River Watershed Comprehensive Plan for Diadromous Fishes (06/17/21)


Piscataquog River Dam Public Information Meeting, Presented by the Department of Environmental Services Hosted by the Goffstown Select Board Tuesday, August 22, 2023, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm NH Institute of Politics 100 Saint Anselm Drive Manchester, NH 03102

 

Informational Meeting Notice

 

NHDES Informational Meeting Handout

 


Overview

The Piscataquog River consists of three branches, the South, Middle, and North, which run through the south-central New Hampshire communities of Deering, Francestown, Lyndeborough, New Boston, Weare, Goffstown, and Manchester. The Piscataquog River has an approximate length of 63 miles that is free flowing for 96 percent of its length.

 

The three branches merge near the Goffstown town-line and the River runs from west to east through Goffstown into Manchester. In west Manchester, the Piscataquog passes under the Nazaire Biron Bridge and reaches the Merrimack River just upstream of the Queen City Bridge.

 

Close to six (6) miles of the Piscataquog River is classified as impounded. Hydroelectric dams include Hadley Falls and Greggs Falls in Goffstown, and Kelley Falls in Manchester. The Gregg Falls project impoundment includes Glen Lake, with an area of approximate open-water area of 137 acres. The Kelley Falls project impoundment includes Namaske Lake, with an approximate open-water area of 192.5 acres. All three dams are owned by the State of NH and the State leases rights to hydroelectric generation facilities. Hadley Falls dam has not produced hydroelectricity since 2007.

 

More information about Hadley Falls, Gregg Falls, and Kelley Falls will be collected and made available on this Town of Goffstown website. Specific questions can be directed to Town Hall, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at (603) 497-8990.

 

Piscataquog River Management Plan Update - 2010

    Hadley Falls (P-5379)

    Hadley Falls Dam was constructed in 1921 and the State of NH took ownership in 1968. In the mid-1980s Hadley Falls Dam began producing hydroelectric power in partnership between the NH Water Resource Board, NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) and Hydro Dynamics Corporation, later Goffstown Hydro Corporation. In 2007 Goffstown Hydro Corporation ceased hydro-electric operations at this location. In 2013 NHDES became the sole licensee of Hadley Falls Project No. 5379 and indicated to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the State would seek other hydropower operators. The State continued to seek hydropower operators at Hadley Falls over the last decade, while the Town considered redevelopment of the mill complex on the adjacent property.

     

    In April and May 2023 NHDES notified the Goffstown Select Board of the State’s decision to relinquish the FERC License for Hadley Falls begin the process of removing Hadley Falls Dam.


    03/28/2023 - FERC Letter to NHDES - Discussing the Non-operating status and overdue plan and schedule to restore operation for the Hadley Falls Hydroelectric Project under P-537

     

    04/20/2023 - Select Board Special Meeting minutes - Hadley Falls Dam Project On-Site meeting

     

    04/24/2023 - Select Board Letter to Governor Sununu re: Hadley Falls Project

     

    05/22/2023 - Select Board Special Meeting minutes - NHDES Follow up

     

    05/26/2023 - NHDES Letter to FERC - Plan and Schedule for Surrendering FERC License - Hadley Falls Dam - Project 5379-008

     

    06/16/2023 - FERC Letter to NHDES - Plan and Schedule to Surrender the Hadley Falls Hydroelectric Project - Hadley Falls Hydroelectric

     

    08/16/2023 - Letter from Town to NHDES Supporting Expedited Feasibility Study for Hadley Falls Dam

     

    10/02/2023 - Select Board Letter to NOAA - Support for Merrimack River Watershed New Hampshire Fish Passage Improvement Project

     

    10/24/2023 - NHDES Letter to FERC - Plan and Schedule to Surrender the Hadley Falls Hydroelectric Project

     

    11/17/2023 - NHDES Letter of Interest - Grant Announcement F24AS00062, National Fish Passage Program Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Restoring River, Floodplain, and Coastal Connectivity and Resiliency

    Gregg Falls (P-3180)

    The Gregg Falls Dam was built by the Manchester Traction, Light, and Power Company in 1918. At the time it was the largest dam in the state. The dam was decommissioned as a hydroelectric generator in the 1970s, but recommissioned with new turbines and generators in 1985.

     

    Today, the Gregg's Falls power station is a 3,479-kilowatt hydroelectric generating station owned and operated by Eagle Creek Renewable Energy (www.eaglecreekre.com/facilities/operating-facilities/greggs-falls). The facility’s two Francis turbines produce approximately 11 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy in a typical year. The Gregg’s Falls facility began commercial operation in 1985. The Gregg's Falls facility operates under an exempt license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

    Kelley's Falls (P-3025)