Ashuelot Pond Dam Village District
Photo by David Park
Summary of September 26, 2023 Dam Gate House Inspection
Bob Carter, NH Dams, LLC
The gate house appears to be in sound structural condition. Next steps are for NH Dams and TTG to provide a report of the findings to the Dam Bureau for their review and concurrence. Subsequent to that submission and approval, NH Dams and TTG will develop plans for the construction of a concrete weir in the water pit of the gate house, with the top of concrete weir set to the elevation of the annual drawdown of the lake. Included in the concrete weir will be a low-level-outlet (LLO) gate able to pass flow equivalent to the capacity of the gate house outlet, for deeper drawdowns every 5-years, and emergency drawdowns. In addition to the above, a revised hydrologic model, overtopping protection plans, and a dam breach model, will be prepared, to be included with a permit to the Dam Bureau for construction or reconstruction of the dam.
NH Dams, LLC anticipate having a draft of the report for review by the Ashuelot Pond Dam Village District (APDVD) by the end of October, for submission to Dam Bureau for review and concurrence prior to Thanksgiving.
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September 26, 2023
Ashuelot Pond Dam Update
Final Construction Observation and High water Observation Report
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September 15, 2023
Ashuelot Pond Dam Update
Fall 2023 Tentative Date for Opening Dam Gate
October 16, 2023 (routine drawdown of max 3.5 ft)
Deep Drawdown Information
A 1991 order issued by the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) established a schedule of deep drawdowns to occur once every five years, beginning in 1991, for the purpose of dam repairs, aquatic weed control, and maintenance of shorefront improvements. There was a NHDES approved non-scheduled deep drawdown in 2019 for dam repairs. The scheduled 2021 deep drawdown did not occur. NHDES confirmed that we must follow the scheduled deep drawdown dates per the 1991 decision. The next scheduled deep drawdown is in 2026.
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July 10, 2023
Ashuelot Pond Dam Update
The gate was opened just after lunch. Really not much effect as the State Dam Engineer had told us. Levels still going up but at least it is letting a little water out. Levels are above spring runoff. Gate will be left open until levels have receded.
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July 7, 2023 APDVD Annual Meeting Minutes
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Redistricting Petition
The following petition requests that the Washington Board of Selectman change and redraw the district boundaries of Ashuelot Pond Dam Village District (APDVD) to include, at a minimum, all of Lake Ashuelot Estates, all of the Ashuelot Pond Association properties, and all other properties on Ashuelot Pond. The petition will be circulated at the APDVD Dam Meeting on Friday, July 7, at 7 p.m. at Camp Morgan Lodge and also available on Saturday, July 8, at the LAE Annual Meeting.
APDVD Redistricting Petition 2023
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July 6, 2023
Ashuelot Pond Dam Update
The chain fall hoist from the old dam gate is now attached and operational on the new temporary gate. We will assess the functionality and operation as we continue to explore a future actuator.
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July 5, 2023
Ashuelot Pond Dam Update
The water level has been slowly dropping this morning. Additionally, our dam contractor is opening the gate today to aid is the continued drop of the lake level.
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The new vertical gate beams that allow us to open the gate are at the dam. A horizontal beam will connect the two vertical beams. The chain fall hoist that operated the old gate is being moved and will be installed on the new beam system. This will allow us to open the temporary gate in the same manner as the old gate. This work is scheduled to begin this week.
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July 3, 2023
Ashuelot Pond Dam Update
Water level update:
We are aware of concerns regarding the water level of the lake. The Commissioner has spoken to the dam operator from Millen Pond and they will not open their gate, allowing our lake level to drop. We cannot control water coming from upstream but the spillways help control large volumes of water. In comparison, the current water level is lower than what we had in the spring and what occurred in July of 2021. We will continue to monitor the water level.
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February, 2023
Ashuelot Pond Dam Update
The following report outlines the progress to date on the temporary gate installation at the Ashuelot Pond Dam. A meeting to discuss the actuator will be scheduled soon.
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The following updated Ashuelot Pond Dam Emergency Action Plan Notification Flow Chart was submitted to the NH Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau for approval in May 2023.
Emergency Action Plan Notification Flow Chart
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December 14, 2022
Ashuelot Pond Dam Update
The new dam gate is in and functioning as it should! Opened for the traditional 3 foot drawdown, yesterday. Still a bit of concrete work to be done, but that can wait until spring. That does not affect the operation of the gate.
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December 3, 2022
Ashuelot Pond Dam Update
The structure that holds the gate is being installed, this week. The plan is to install the gate, right after the structure is complete. Installation is the beginning of next week, if all goes as planned. In case you were wondering how the divers stay warm. Water is pumped, from the lake, to a heating unit. It is then pumped back to the divers wet suits, keeping them warm.
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Photos of the “gate” and structure that will hold it.
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November 18, 2022
Ashuelot Pond Dam Update
Update on the dam gate as provided by Joshua Watson of M&K commercial diving:
The concrete came out excellent in my opinion. Nice flat surface, zero voids and good square edges. The formed opening is square and level, the exception being the ceiling which was not poured.
The current opening is 56.75 wide by roughly 35'' in height. The frame work is about 50% complete at this time. The steel plate has been ordered today along with the I-beam for the uprights that will go to surface. Final gate dimensions will be 64'' wide by 42'' high. The gate will also have horizontal and longitudinal strong backs of .5x1.5 welded in place.
Steel for the gate should be delivered to our shop on Monday. The Thanksgiving Holiday will slow us a bit for this week, but we plan on installing the structure the following week. We have a little form work and overpour to clean up on the inside once dewatered. We believe we should be able to begin a draw down if needed by the week of the 28th. I will provide as-builts of the steel structure.
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October 25, 2022
Ashuelot Pond Dam Update
Dam Gate Update: Work is continuing under water. Building forms to hold concrete. Hope to pour, on Friday. If you look closely at the first photo, you can barely see the diver’s helmet, beneath the water.
October 20, 2022
Ashuelot Pond Dam Update
Good news. The long awaited gate work has begun. Equipment was delivered yesterday and underwater work has begun, for the new gate, at the dam. Putting in anchors for the concrete, which will be poured next week. All this work is done underwater, by commercial divers. No need to drop the lake, at this point. After the gate is completed, the plan is to do the traditional 3 foot drawdown.
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October 4, 2022
Ashuelot Pond Dam Update
Dam/spillway/gate update. We now have a contract, in place, to replace the gate. Start date is about the 17th of October. Cost is $64,000+. We are going to apply for FEMA funds, but they have not yet opened for applications. No drawdown needed to do the work. The underwater work will be done by divers. After completion of the work.( Barring any issues) the usual 3 foot seasonal drawdown will occur.
Preliminary Temporary Gate Plans
NHDES Letter of Deficiency
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July 2022
Ashuelot Pond Dam Update
Commissioners
Joe Belcastro has retired from the head APDVD Commissioner position.
We thank Joe for his many years of service. Your new Commissioners are:
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Gary Carney
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Gary Mahaffy
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Rich Andrusiak
Contact us at APDVDinfo@gmail.com.
Gate Update
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We are NOT waiting on the approval of any Dam reconstruction permits at this time.
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Before a permanent gate can be installed, the gate house requires repairs. IMPORTANT. The gate house is NOT the wooden structure/shed that contains the gate. The gate house is the concrete structure, in the water, that contains the gate.
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The gate house is scheduled to be repaired in the first two weeks of October 2022. A temporary gate will be installed during this process. This work can be done without impacting the water level of the lake. After construction, NH Dams, LLC will file an amendment to the current wetlands permit as required by the state.
Draw Down Update
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We should be able to safely operate the temporary gate to complete a draw down in October after the gate house is repaired. This will likely happen later than usual (i.e., after Columbus Day). This is tentatively scheduled to be a 2–3 foot draw-down.
Next Steps
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After the temporary gate is installed, NH Dams, LLC will collect required data for the state, and NH Dams, LLC will work to move forward with the installation of a permanent aluminum gate with a manual actuator.
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We are working to change the dam hazard classification level. This change will allow APDVD to qualify for potential state and federal funding for future projects. NH Dams, LLC will pursue this funding.
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Next steps include the installation of a permanent gate and the completion of the dam crest.
Donations
You can still donate to the project. Please make donations payable to:
Ashuelot Pond Dam Village District, PO Box 105, Washington, NH 03280
Memo: Gate/Spillway fund
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