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Sluice Dam

PortageHazardClass IV
Sluice Dam

Description

Shortly after Pinball look for a horizon line with a bridge and small buildings on river left. Scout this drop to find the best line. Here, there is the remains of an old mill/dam, there is also evidence here of a newer, yet still abandoned small scale hydro electric project.
(NH Dept Environmental Services
Dam Bureau ID 243.29, owned by Warner River Hydro). There is a concrete bypass on the far left that leads under a culvert then into the small hydro building. There is another steep narrow concrete sluice (4' wide)on the left. If you run the sluice turn your paddle parallel to the boat to avoid loosing it (or your arms) from the vertical concrete sidewalls. The sluice then drops into a hole and a trashy runout.

Note: As of 2005, there is an extra board in the sluice diverting some of the water to the side channel and making the sluice higher and steeper. A run over the dam instead of the sluice is recommended at all except high levels to avoid bottoming out and damaging one's boat. A portage is recommended for open boats and low and medium levels. Update 3/07: The board in the sluice has mostly been worn away by the river, however the board could be replaced by the dam owner at any time.


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