Mill Pond dam
Mill Pond
Mill Pond, located in Franklin, Maine, is a private hydroelectric dam with a rich history dating back to its completion in 1860. The dam stands at a height of 8 feet and has a hydraulic height of 6 feet, providing a storage capacity of 108 acre-feet. With a surface area of 85 acres and a drainage area of 8 square miles, Mill Pond serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, fire protection, and supporting fish and wildlife habitats.
Maintained by the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Mill Pond is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite its low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," the dam has an inspection frequency of 12 months to monitor any potential risks. The dam's spillway width of 15 feet and concrete structure contribute to its overall stability and functionality in managing water resources in the Lemon River watershed.
Overall, Mill Pond serves as a vital infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience in the region. As a private hydroelectric facility, it not only generates renewable energy but also provides essential services such as flood control and habitat preservation. With its long history and continued regulatory oversight, Mill Pond stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices in Maine.
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 Mill Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Carrabassett River Near North Anson | 895 cfs | → |
| Sandy River Near Mercer | 1,310 cfs | → |
| Kennebec River At Bingham | 6,390 cfs | → |
| Austin Stream At Bingham | 112 cfs | → |
| Swift River Near Roxbury | 230 cfs | → |
| Androscoggin River At Rumford | 5,900 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mill Pond.
Boat launches
- George Thomas Road Chesterville
- North Shore Drive Smithfield
- Perkins Street Norridgewock
- Ferry Road Norridgewock
- East Pond Landing Estates 42, Oakland
- Castle Island Road 484, Mount Vernon
Campgrounds
- Farmington Conference Center
- Happy Horseshoe Campground
- Mount Blue State Park
- Safford Notch Campsite
- Cranberry Stream Campsite
- Avery Lean-To
More reservoirs
Track Mill Pond 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 Mill Pond
Where does the data for Mill Pond 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 Mill Pond.