Harrington Lake dam
Harrington Lake
Harrington Lake, located in Piscataquis, Maine, is a hydroelectric reservoir primarily serving the purpose of fish and wildlife pond management along with hydroelectric power generation. The dam, completed in 1930, stands at a height of 16 feet and spans a length of 1905 feet, with a storage capacity of 7691 acre-feet and a surface area of 1178 acres. The dam is of concrete, earth, and gravity types, with a multi-arch core and rock foundation.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Harrington Lake poses a low hazard potential with a high risk assessment rating of 2. The dam is equipped with two slide (sluice gate) outlet gates and has not experienced any major modifications over the years. While the condition assessment is not available, the dam's emergency action plan was last revised in December 2018, meeting regulatory guidelines.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Harrington Lake to be an intriguing site for its dual purpose of supporting wildlife habitat and sustainable energy generation. The picturesque reservoir, nestled in the scenic Maine landscape, offers a unique blend of environmental conservation and renewable energy production, making it a noteworthy location for those interested in the intersection of water resources management and climate 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 Harrington Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Seboeis River Near Shin Pond | 394 cfs | → |
| East Branch Penobscot River At Grindstone | 2,700 cfs | → |
| North Branch Penobscot River Nr Pittston Farm | 293 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River At Medford | 2,240 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River At Blanchard | 183 cfs | → |
| Mattawamkeag River Near Mattawamkeag | 2,750 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Harrington Lake .
Boat launches
- Poulin Road Maine
- Golden Road Maine
- Fredericka's Way Maine
- Its 85 Penobscot County
- Grand Lake Road Piscataquis County
- Grand Lake Road Penobscot County
Campgrounds
- Nesowadnehunk Field - Baxter State Park
- Group A
- Group B
- Kidney Pond Campground
- Daicey Pond Campground
- Horserace Campground
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Confluence With Penobscot River, East Branch
- Headwaters To Confluence With West Branch Penobscot River
- Headwaters To Confluence With Penobscot River, East Branch
- Lobster Lake To Confluence With West Branch
- Golden Road Bridge (Approx. 2 Miles Below Lobster Stream) To Confluence With Pine Stream
- Ambajejus Falls To The End Of North And South Twin Lakes
More reservoirs
Track Harrington 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 Harrington Lake
Where does the data for Harrington 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 Harrington Lake .