Dirigo Dowel dam
Dirigo Dowel
Dirigo Dowel, located in Somerset, Maine, is a historic dam on Lemon Stream that has been serving its purpose since 1890. Owned privately, this dam stands at a height of 8 feet and has a spillway width of 30 feet. With a NID storage capacity of 243 acre-feet and a surface area of 37 acres, Dirigo Dowel plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area.
Despite being categorized as low hazard potential, Dirigo Dowel is regulated by the state of Maine and undergoes regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam has not been rated for its current condition, but it meets the state's jurisdiction and regulatory requirements. In the event of an emergency, the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared, but its hazard potential is considered low.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Dirigo Dowel offers a glimpse into the historical significance and engineering feats of early water infrastructure in Maine. As a key structure on Lemon Stream, this dam continues to play a vital role in managing water resources and providing valuable insights into the region's hydrological 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 Dirigo Dowel -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Carrabassett River Near North Anson | 943 cfs | → |
| Sandy River Near Mercer | 1,390 cfs | → |
| Kennebec River At Bingham | 6,390 cfs | → |
| Austin Stream At Bingham | 115 cfs | → |
| Dead River Near Dead River | 1,340 cfs | → |
| Spencer Stream At Mouth | 365 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dirigo Dowel.
Boat launches
- George Thomas Road Chesterville
- Ferry Road Norridgewock
- Perkins Street Norridgewock
- North Shore Drive Smithfield
- Canadian Road Stratton
- East Pond Landing Estates 42, Oakland
Campgrounds
- Happy Horseshoe Campground
- Farmington Conference Center
- Safford Notch Campsite
- Avery Lean-To
- Cranberry Stream Campsite
- Horns Pond Lean-Tos
More reservoirs
Track Dirigo Dowel 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 Dirigo Dowel
Where does the data for Dirigo Dowel 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 Dirigo Dowel.