Stone Dam dam
Stone Dam
Stone Dam, also known as Quakish Lake Dam, is a concrete gravity dam located in Millinocket, Maine, along the West Branch Penobscot River. Built in 1900 for hydroelectric purposes, this dam stands at a height of 27 feet and stretches 1262 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 8100 acre-feet and a surface area of 1344 acres. With a maximum discharge of 109,000 cubic feet per second, it serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, navigation, and water supply, making it a vital infrastructure in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Stone Dam has a high hazard potential and a very high risk assessment due to its age and condition assessment not being available. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 1086 feet and is equipped with a combination of one other controlled outlet and thirteen slide gates for water control. Despite not being state-regulated, this dam plays a crucial role in the local ecosystem, providing habitat for fish and wildlife while also serving as a recreational area for visitors to enjoy.
As an integral part of the water resource infrastructure in Penobscot County, Stone Dam stands as a testament to engineering ingenuity from the turn of the century. With its historical significance and multifaceted functionality, this dam continues to be a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the intersection of human development and environmental sustainability.
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 Stone Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Branch Penobscot River At Grindstone | 2,700 cfs | → |
| Mattawamkeag River Near Mattawamkeag | 2,750 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River At Medford | 2,240 cfs | → |
| Penobscot River At West Enfield | 14,300 cfs | → |
| Seboeis River Near Shin Pond | 394 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River Near Dover-Foxcroft | 386 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stone Dam .
Boat launches
- Mike Michaud Trail Millinocket
- Trail Penobscot County
- Medway Road Millinocket
- Landing Road Penobscot County
- Golden Road Maine
- Fredericka's Way Maine
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Ambajejus Falls To The End Of North And South Twin Lakes
- Hay Brook To Bridge Above Medway At State Route 157
- Headwaters To Confluence With West Branch Penobscot River
- Headwaters To Confluence With Penobscot River, East Branch
- Bowlin Camps To Hay Brook
- Headwaters To Mouth At West Branch Pleasant River
Track Stone Dam 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 Stone Dam
Where does the data for Stone Dam 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 High 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 Stone Dam .