Ellis Dam dam
Ellis Dam
Ellis Dam, located in Hinkley, Maine, along the Passagassawakeag River, was completed in 1850 and stands at a height of 15 feet with a hydraulic height of 13 feet. This rockfill dam serves primarily for flood risk reduction, providing a maximum storage capacity of 625 acre-feet, with a normal storage of 525 acre-feet. The dam has a surface area of 93 acres and a length of 235 feet, ensuring protection for the surrounding areas from potential inundation.
Managed by a private owner, Ellis Dam is regulated by the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated, with the last inspection conducted in 1997. The dam lacks an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and updated emergency contacts, raising concerns about its readiness for potential incidents. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, there is a need for increased monitoring and risk assessment to ensure its continued safety and functionality in the face of changing climate patterns and water resource management challenges.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Ellis Dam represents a historical and functional piece of infrastructure in Maine with a vital role in flood risk reduction along the Passagassawakeag River. As climate change continues to impact water systems and increase the frequency of extreme weather events, the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams like Ellis Dam becomes increasingly crucial. With a focus on improving emergency preparedness, risk assessment, and condition monitoring, efforts to safeguard Ellis Dam will contribute to the resilience of the local community and surrounding ecosystems in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Ellis Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ducktrap River Near Lincolnville | 28 cfs | → |
| Kennebec River At North Sidney | 10,100 cfs | → |
| Kenduskeag Stream Near Bangor | 179 cfs | → |
| Sheepscot River At North Whitefield | 329 cfs | → |
| Cobbosseecontee Stream At Gardiner | 756 cfs | → |
| Sandy River Near Mercer | 1,130 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ellis Dam.
Boat launches
- Prairie Road 21, Unity
- Turnpike Drive Camden
- Water Street, Castine
- Megunticook Lake
- Causeway Road 71, China
- Pitchpole Trail Camden
Track Ellis 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 Ellis Dam
Where does the data for Ellis 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 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 Ellis Dam.