CONCORD, Mass. -- CONCORD, Mass. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New England District, will host an open house Aug. 26, 2026, in Franklin, New Hampshire, to share details on draft revisions to the Franklin Falls Dam Master Plan.
The open house will run from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Franklin Elks Club in Franklin. There will be no formal presentation, and members of the public are invited to visit at any point during the session to interact with USACE staff. The open house will cover proposed changes to the current Master Plan. Team members will share instructions on how to submit comments, answer questions and gather public feedback. A 30-day public comment period will begin Aug. 26, 2026, and end Sept. 26, 2026.
Master Plan Overview
A Master Plan is a strategic land-use management document that guides the comprehensive management and development of all recreational, natural and cultural resources throughout the life of a water resource development project. It defines how USACE will manage these resources for public use and conservation.
The current Franklin Falls Dam Master Plan needs revision to address changes in regional land use, population, outdoor recreation trends and 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 revisions will not address the technical and operational aspects of the lake related to flood risk management or the water conservation missions of the project.
Submitting Comments & Reviewing Draft Plans
Comments must be submitted in writing at the open house or digitally via the comment form on the Master Plans webpage.
The 30-day public comment period begins Aug. 26, 2026, and ends Sept. 26, 2026. The draft plans can be reviewed at: https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Franklin-Falls-Dam/Franklin-Falls-Dam-Master-Plan/
During the 30-day public comment period, comments can also be emailed to FranklinFallsDam@usace.army.mil.
On Aug. 26, the website will also feature digital copies of the draft Master Plan, Environmental Assessment and associated documents, a comment form with instructions, and a downloadable presentation covering the topics highlighted at the open house.
About Franklin Falls Dam
Franklin Falls Dam, located in Franklin, Sanbornton, New Hampton, Bristol and Hill, New Hampshire, is situated in the upper Merrimack River Basin. This multi-purpose project is built and maintained by the USACE New England District.
Congress authorized the dam in 1938 for flood control. Construction began in November 1939 and was completed in October 1943 at a cost of 7.9 million dollars. While the primary purpose of Franklin Falls Dam is to provide flood risk management to the Merrimack River Basin, the project has also become popular for recreational opportunities, including mountain biking, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, picnicking, hiking, dog mushing, snowmobiling and disc golf.
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. Franklin Falls Dam receives approximately 151,000 visits per year.