Trafton Lake dam
Trafton Lake
Trafton Lake in Aroostook, Maine, is a vital water resource managed by the local government and regulated by the Maine Emergency Management Agency. This Earth-type dam, designed by USDA NRCS, stands at 66 feet tall and serves primarily for flood risk reduction. Completed in 1969, it has a storage capacity of 5050 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 104 acres. The dam's hydraulic height is 55 feet, making it a significant structure for water management in the region.
The dam's fair condition assessment and high hazard potential indicate the need for regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its stability and effectiveness in flood risk reduction. With a spillway width of 3 feet and a drainage area of 4 square miles, Trafton Lake plays a crucial role in managing water flow from the Limestone Stream. Despite its age, the dam continues to serve multiple purposes including fire protection, recreation, and stock or small fish pond management, highlighting its importance as a versatile water resource for the community.
Overall, Trafton Lake stands as a key infrastructure for water management in Aroostook, Maine, providing essential flood risk reduction and serving various recreational and ecological purposes. With its significant storage capacity and strategic location on the Limestone Stream, the dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood hazards and ensuring water availability for the local community. Continued monitoring and maintenance efforts are essential to uphold the dam's functionality and safeguard its contributions to water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
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 Trafton Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Aroostook River At Washburn | 3,510 cfs | → |
| Williams Brook At Phair | 7 cfs | → |
| Aroostook River Near Masardis | 2,060 cfs | → |
| Fish River Near Fort Kent | 3,710 cfs | → |
| St. John River Below Fish R | 14,700 cfs | → |
| Meduxnekeag River Near Houlton | 222 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Trafton Lake.
Track Trafton 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 Trafton Lake
Where does the data for Trafton 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 Trafton Lake.