Spencer Lake dam
Spencer Lake
Spencer Lake, located in Somerset, Maine, is a private hydroelectric dam with a primary purpose of generating power. Constructed in 1946, this concrete dam stands at 14 feet high and spans 120 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 8,230 acre-feet. The lake covers an expansive surface area of 1,819 acres and is regulated by the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) for state permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
The dam on Spencer Lake plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction, recreation, and providing a habitat for fish and wildlife. Despite its low hazard potential, the condition assessment of the dam has not been rated, and emergency action plans are not currently in place. The dam's spillway width is 20 feet, ensuring controlled water release when needed. With its beautiful surroundings and diverse ecosystem, Spencer Lake is a valuable water resource that contributes to the local environment and supports the community's needs.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the significance of Spencer Lake as a hydroelectric facility that not only generates power but also serves multiple purposes such as flood control and recreation. The presence of the dam on Little Spencer Stream underscores the importance of sustainable water management practices in mitigating environmental risks and ensuring the safety of surrounding communities. As a privately owned structure in Maine, Spencer Lake represents a harmonious blend of human intervention and natural landscapes, highlighting the delicate balance between water resource development and conservation efforts in the face of a changing climate.
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 Spencer Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spencer Stream At Mouth | 385 cfs | → |
| Dead River Near Dead River | 1,370 cfs | → |
| Kennebec River At The Forks | 1,920 cfs | → |
| Austin Stream At Bingham | 124 cfs | → |
| Kennebec River At Bingham | 6,740 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River At Blanchard | 201 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spencer Lake.
Boat launches
- Attean Road Somerset County
- Canadian Road Stratton
- Beach Road Somerset County
- West Shore Road Caratunk
- Arnold Trail 4026, Franklin County
- Burnham Pond Road Maine
Campgrounds
- Harrison’S Pierce Pond Camp
- Avery Lean-To
- Safford Notch Campsite
- Horns Pond Lean-Tos
- Cranberry Stream Campsite
- Moose River Campground
Paddle runs
- Kennebec Gorge
- The South Branch Headwater From Hilton Farm To Bridge At Upper End Of Canada Falls Lake; Also Penobscot Lake And Brook
- Canada Falls Lake To Pittston Farm
- Pittston Farm To Golden Road Bridge (Approx. 2 Miles Below Lobster Stream)
- Headwaters To Confluence With South Branch Penobscot River
- Headwaters To Mouth At West Branch Pleasant River
Track Spencer 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 Spencer Lake
Where does the data for Spencer 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 Spencer Lake.