Ripogenus dam
Ripogenus
Ripogenus is a captivating hydroelectric dam located in Millinocket, Maine, along the beautiful West Branch Penobscot River. Constructed in 1916, this concrete, earth, and gravity dam stands at an impressive height of 83 feet and has a length of 795 feet, with a storage capacity of 688,000 acre-feet. The dam serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, recreation, and water supply, making it a vital resource for the surrounding area.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Ripogenus poses a high hazard potential due to its location and structural features. Despite its age, the dam remains in good condition with regular inspections ensuring its safety and integrity. With a maximum discharge capacity of 95,660 cubic feet per second, Ripogenus plays a crucial role in managing water flow and providing clean energy to the region. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Ripogenus represents a historic and essential piece of infrastructure that continues to contribute to the sustainable development of the area.
In addition to its engineering marvel, Ripogenus also supports fish and wildlife habitats, highlighting the balance between human needs and environmental conservation. With its controlled spillway and eight slide gates, the dam is equipped to handle emergencies and ensure the safety of downstream areas. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the importance of structures like Ripogenus in managing water flow and mitigating risks becomes increasingly evident, making it a fascinating subject for those interested in water resource management and climate resilience.
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 Ripogenus -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Branch Penobscot River At Grindstone | 2,700 cfs | → |
| Seboeis River Near Shin Pond | 394 cfs | → |
| North Branch Penobscot River Nr Pittston Farm | 293 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River At Medford | 2,240 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River At Blanchard | 183 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River Near Dover-Foxcroft | 386 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ripogenus .
Boat launches
- Poulin Road Maine
- Golden Road Maine
- Fredericka's Way Maine
- Landing Road Penobscot County
- Its 85 Penobscot County
- Trail Penobscot County
Campgrounds
- Horserace Campground
- Kidney Pond Campground
- Daicey Pond Campground
- Nesowadnehunk Field - Baxter State Park
- Group A
- Group B
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Confluence With Penobscot River, East Branch
- Headwaters To Confluence With West Branch Penobscot River
- Lobster Lake To Confluence With West Branch
- Ambajejus Falls To The End Of North And South Twin Lakes
- Golden Road Bridge (Approx. 2 Miles Below Lobster Stream) To Confluence With Pine Stream
- Headwaters To Confluence With Penobscot River, East Branch
More reservoirs
Track Ripogenus 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 Ripogenus
Where does the data for Ripogenus 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 Ripogenus .