Fryeburg dam
Fryeburg
Located in Oxford County, Maine, Fryeburg is home to the Wards Pond Brook, a vital water resource that supports various purposes such as fire protection, stock pond, fish and wildlife habitat, and hydroelectric power generation. The Fryeburg dam, completed in 1900, stands at a height of 17 feet and has a storage capacity of 600 acre-feet, providing essential water management for the local community. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," the Fryeburg dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
Managed by private owners and regulated by the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Fryeburg dam undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in September 2017. The dam's primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation underscores its importance in sustainable energy production and climate resilience efforts. With a surface area of 9 acres and a drainage area of 1.4 square miles, Fryeburg dam contributes to the ecological balance of the area while providing recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.
Supported by a spillway width of 14 feet and a hydraulic height of 20 feet, Fryeburg dam exemplifies responsible water resource management and infrastructure maintenance. As a part of the New England District, the dam's role in flood control and water supply enhancement is crucial for ensuring the well-being of the local community and surrounding environment. With its historical significance and ongoing operational effectiveness, Fryeburg dam stands as a testament to the synergy between water resource management, climate resilience, and sustainable energy production 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 Fryeburg -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saco River Near Conway | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Saco River At Cornish | 7,900 cfs | → |
| Bearcamp River At South Tamworth | 198 cfs | → |
| Wild River At Gilead | 194 cfs | → |
| Little Androscoggin River Near South Paris | 149 cfs | → |
| Androscoggin River Near Gorham | 2,930 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fryeburg.
Boat launches
- Conway Lake Boat Launch
- Denmark Road 99, Denmark
- Upper Pea Porridge Pond Boat Launch
- Eaton Road 2984, Eaton
- Wabunaki Road 10, Denmark
- Dam Road Porter
Campgrounds
- Fiddlehead Campground Showers
- Fiddlehead Campground Checkin And Camp Store
- Fiddlehead Campground B9
- Province Pond Shelter
- Mountain Pond Shelter
- Covered Bridge Campground
Track Fryeburg 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 Fryeburg
Where does the data for Fryeburg 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 Fryeburg.