Chocorua River Dam - Chocorua, NH
Posted by: 
silverquill
N 43° 52.690 W 071° 13.265
19T E 321560 N 4860739
This small dam on the Chocorua River is part flood control but also creates a "bioretention cell" and a small roadside park along Route 16 in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Waymark Code: WMN1VT
Location: New Hampshire, United States
Date Posted: 12/09/2014
Views: 6
When traveling on Route 16 in east central New Hampshire through the White Mountains, this pleasant little park is a nice place to stop and relax or enjoy a pic-nic lunch. The sound of the water flowing over the small dam on the Chocorua River is soothing, and there are a few pic-nic tables, but no other facilities. The post office is across the highway on the other side.
This park is also constructed as a bioretention cell. From the park sign:
Why is this park special?
This park is more than a pretty plce. It is a bioretention cell and it helps to keep the river clean. Specially selected native plants are planted in a soil mix designed to clean the water that runs off of the road before it enters the river. This helps to remove the pollutants and keep the river clean.
What is a bioretention cell?
A bioretention cell is a low impact development (LID) practice constructed of soil and native plants that detain and filter stormwater runoff. Runoff comes from rain and snowmelt that flows across this roadway and picks up debris, chemicals, dirt and other pollutants. This bioretention cell prevents these pollutants from being carried into the river. Instead the dirty water flows into the system, where it ponds and infiltrates the soil. The special soil mix and plants clean in infiltrate the water.
Dirty water in ... clean water out!