Kezar Lake Outlet dam
Kezar Lake Outlet
Kezar Lake Outlet, located in Oxford, Maine, is a concrete dam completed in 1924 with a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation. The dam stands at a height of 12 feet and has a hydraulic height of 10 feet, with a storage capacity of 22,000 acre-feet. The outlet serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, small fish pond, fish and wildlife pond, and hydroelectric power generation.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Kezar Lake Outlet is in good condition with a low hazard potential. The dam has not been inspected since September 2017, with an inspection frequency of 12 months. While the condition assessment is not rated, the outlet does not currently have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place. Despite this, the risk assessment, risk management measures, and inundation maps are yet to be prepared, indicating potential areas for improvement in emergency preparedness.
Overall, Kezar Lake Outlet provides essential hydroelectric power while serving various other purposes in the community. With its low hazard potential and stable condition, ongoing maintenance and the development of an EAP could further enhance the outlet's resilience to potential risks and emergencies, ensuring the safety and functionality of the dam for years to come.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Kezar Lake Outlet -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saco River Near Conway | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Wild River At Gilead | 194 cfs | → |
| Little Androscoggin River Near South Paris | 149 cfs | → |
| Saco River At Cornish | 7,900 cfs | → |
| Androscoggin River Near Gorham | 2,930 cfs | → |
| Bearcamp River At South Tamworth | 198 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kezar Lake Outlet.
Boat launches
- Basin Brook Dam Boat Launch
- Conway Lake Boat Launch
- Denmark Road 99, Denmark
- Norway Road Harrison
- Power House Road, Bridgton
- Upper Pea Porridge Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Fiddlehead Campground B9
- Fiddlehead Campground Checkin And Camp Store
- Fiddlehead Campground Showers
- Province Pond Shelter
- Mountain Pond Shelter
- Baldface Shelter
Track Kezar Lake Outlet in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Kezar Lake Outlet
Where does the data for Kezar Lake Outlet come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Kezar Lake Outlet.