Canada Falls Lake dam
Canada Falls Lake
Canada Falls Lake, located in Pittston Farm, Maine, is a concrete gravity dam with a height of 50 feet and a length of 765 feet, completed in 1921 for hydroelectric purposes. The dam's primary function is to provide flood risk reduction, water supply, navigation, recreation, and support for fish and wildlife habitats. With a storage capacity of 21,670 acre-feet and a surface area of 2521 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Canada Falls Lake has a controlled spillway with a width of 155 feet and four slide (sluice gate) outlet gates. The dam's high hazard potential and very high risk assessment highlight the importance of regular inspections and emergency preparedness. While the condition assessment is currently not available, the dam's inspection frequency is set at one year to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite being non-state regulated, the dam's significant role in water resource management and climate mitigation efforts make it a key asset in the region.
Overall, Canada Falls Lake serves as a vital infrastructure for water resource management, energy production, and environmental conservation in the West Branch Penobscot River watershed. With its historical significance and multi-purpose functionality, the dam plays a crucial role in supporting various sectors while facing high hazard potential and risk assessment challenges. As a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts, Canada Falls Lake remains a noteworthy site for studying the intersection of infrastructure development, environmental sustainability, and climate adaptation in Maine's diverse landscape.
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 Canada Falls Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch Penobscot River Nr Pittston Farm | 391 cfs | → |
| Kennebec River At The Forks | 813 cfs | → |
| Spencer Stream At Mouth | 514 cfs | → |
| Dead River Near Dead River | 883 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River At Blanchard | 270 cfs | → |
| Kingsbury Stream At Abbot Village | 172 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Canada Falls Lake .
Boat launches
- Maine
- Kineo Dock Road Rockwood
- Jackman Road 1139, Rockwood
- Poulin Road Maine
- Attean Road Somerset County
- Burnham Pond Road Maine
Campgrounds
- Katahdin Stream - Baxter State Park
- Elm Stream Campground
- Moose River Campground
- Casey's Spencer Bay Camps
- Salmon Island
- Beach Haven Campsite
Paddle runs
- Pittston Farm To Golden Road Bridge (Approx. 2 Miles Below Lobster Stream)
- Canada Falls Lake To Pittston Farm
- Headwaters To Confluence With South Branch Penobscot River
- The South Branch Headwater From Hilton Farm To Bridge At Upper End Of Canada Falls Lake; Also Penobscot Lake And Brook
- The North Branch Headwater From Canal Cut Approximately 1.25 Miles Upstream Of Big Bog To Pittston Farm
- Golden Road Bridge (Approx. 2 Miles Below Lobster Stream) To Confluence With Pine Stream
More reservoirs
Track Canada Falls 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 Canada Falls Lake
Where does the data for Canada Falls 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 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 Canada Falls Lake .