Spencer Pond dam
Spencer Pond
Spencer Pond, located in Piscataquis, Maine, is a privately owned recreational dam on Spencer Stream. Built in 1965, this rockfill dam stands at a height of 12 feet and has a hydraulic height of 6 feet. With a storage capacity of 922 acre-feet, the dam primarily serves recreational purposes and has a low hazard potential.
Managed by the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Spencer Pond is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite not being rated for its condition assessment, the dam has an inspection frequency of 12 months. While the dam has not been modified in recent years and lacks certain emergency preparedness measures such as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP), it still maintains a low risk profile and remains a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts in the region.
Although Spencer Pond currently does not have inundation maps or a detailed risk assessment in place, the dam continues to be a beloved destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking recreational activities. With its picturesque setting and ample storage capacity, Spencer Pond offers a tranquil escape for visitors looking to enjoy the natural beauty of Maine's water resources.
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 Spencer Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch Penobscot River Nr Pittston Farm | 302 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River At Blanchard | 186 cfs | → |
| Kennebec River At The Forks | 1,990 cfs | → |
| Kingsbury Stream At Abbot Village | 123 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River Near Dover-Foxcroft | 404 cfs | → |
| Spencer Stream At Mouth | 365 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spencer Pond.
Boat launches
- Kineo Dock Road Rockwood
- Poulin Road Maine
- Maine
- Jackman Road 1139, Rockwood
- State Route 6 Maine
- Burnham Pond Road Maine
Campgrounds
- Salmon Island
- Jewett Cove
- Casey's Spencer Bay Camps
- Beach Haven Campsite
- Lily Bay State Park
- Elm Stream Campground
Paddle runs
- Lobster Lake To Confluence With West Branch
- Golden Road Bridge (Approx. 2 Miles Below Lobster Stream) To Confluence With Pine Stream
- Headwaters To Mouth At West Branch Pleasant River
- Pittston Farm To Golden Road Bridge (Approx. 2 Miles Below Lobster Stream)
- Kennebec Gorge
- Canada Falls Lake To Pittston Farm
Track Spencer Pond 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 Spencer Pond
Where does the data for Spencer Pond 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 Spencer Pond.