Franklin Falls Dam in Franklin, Sanbornton, New Hampton, Bristol and Hill, New Hampshire is located in the upper Merrimack River Basin. This is a multi-purpose project built and maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New England District. The dam was authorized by Congress as part of the Flood Control Act of 1938 and as amended by acts in 1941 and 1944 and the Merrimack River Flood Control Compact of 1957. Construction of the project began in November 1939 and was completed in October 1943 at a cost of $7.9 million. The project consists of an earthfill dam with stone slope protection 1,740 feet long and 140 feet high; two gated horseshoe conduits, each 19 feet high, 22 feet wide, and 542 feet long; and a chute spillway founded on rock with a concrete weir 546 feet long. The weir’s crest elevation is 27 feet below the top of the dam. The project offers recreational opportunities compatible with the primary function of flood risk management.
While the main purpose of Franklin Falls Dam is to provide flood risk management to the Merrimack River Basin, over the years the project has become known for its recreational opportunities such as mountain biking, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, picnicking, hiking, dog mushing, snowmobiling, disc golf, etc. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the natural resources at Franklin Falls Dam for multiple uses: flood risk management, wildlife habitat, forestry, watershed protection, and outdoor recreation. All project lands and waters are under the jurisdiction of CFR Title 36 regulations, state, and local laws.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is updating the Franklin Falls Dam Master Plan. The Master Plan is the strategic land use management document that guides the comprehensive management and development of all project resources throughout the life of a USACE project. The Master Plan guides efficient and cost-effective management, development, and use of project lands. It is a vital tool for the responsible stewardship and sustainability of project resources for the benefit of present and future generations. The Master Plan guides and articulates USACE responsibilities, pursuant to federal laws to preserve, conserve, restore, maintain, manage, and develop project lands and waters and associated resources. The intent of an updated Master Plan is to present a current inventory and assessment of resources, provide an analysis of resource use, and evaluate existing and future needs required to protect and improve the value of resources at a project.
The current Franklin Falls Dam Master Plan, last approved in 1997, needs revision to address changes in regional land use, population, outdoor recreation trends, and the USACE management policy. Key topics to be discussed in the revised Master Plan include revised land use classifications, new natural and recreational resource management objectives, recreation facility needs, and special issues such as invasive species management and threatened and endangered species habitat. The Master Plan revision WILL NOT address the technical and operational aspects of the lake related to flood risk management or the water conservation missions of the project. During the process, the team will collect data, conduct analysis, prepare a draft report (which will become available for public and agency comments), and ultimately finalize and adopt the new Master Plan.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will host an open house on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Franklin Elks Lodge, to share details on a draft revision process of the Franklin Falls Dam Master Plan and showcase the existing land use classification maps, which are original from 1997. A 30-day public comment period began on April 9, 2025, and will end on May 8, 2025.