Porter Lake dam
Porter Lake
Porter Lake, located in New Vineyard, Maine, is a picturesque water body that serves as a primary source of recreation for the local community. The dam at Porter Lake, completed in 1940, stands at a height of 8 feet and has a hydraulic height of 5 feet. With a storage capacity of 2203 acre-feet and a surface area of 527 acres, the lake offers ample opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-based activities.
Despite its recreational appeal, Porter Lake's dam is in poor condition and has a low hazard potential. The last inspection in 2008 revealed the need for maintenance and improvements to ensure the safety and structural integrity of the dam. The State of Maine regulates the dam, with MEMA overseeing permitting, inspection, and enforcement activities to mitigate any risks associated with its operation.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Porter Lake can appreciate its ecological significance within the Lemon River watershed. As efforts are made to address the dam's maintenance needs and improve its condition, there is an opportunity to enhance the resilience of this vital water resource in the face of changing environmental conditions. With proper management and stewardship, Porter Lake can continue to be a valued recreational destination while supporting the health and sustainability of its surrounding ecosystem.
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 Porter Lake -- 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 Porter Lake.
Boat launches
- George Thomas Road Chesterville
- North Shore Drive Smithfield
- Perkins Street Norridgewock
- Ferry Road Norridgewock
- Castle Island Road 484, Mount Vernon
- East Pond Landing Estates 42, Oakland
Campgrounds
- Farmington Conference Center
- Happy Horseshoe Campground
- Mount Blue State Park
- Safford Notch Campsite
- Cranberry Stream Campsite
- Avery Lean-To
More reservoirs
Track Porter Lake 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 Porter Lake
Where does the data for Porter Lake 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 Porter Lake.