Dead River dam
Dead River
Dead River in Maine is a state-regulated dam that serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Built in 1900, this concrete gravity dam stands at 18 feet tall and spans 150 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet. Situated in Androscoggin County, this dam plays a crucial role in managing the flow of the Dead River, which has a drainage area of 86 square miles.
Despite its age, Dead River has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition. The dam is inspected annually by the Maine Emergency Management Agency, ensuring that it meets state regulatory standards for safety. While the dam's condition assessment is not available, its emergency action plan readiness and risk management measures are not specified in the data. However, the dam's location and purpose make it a key asset for flood risk reduction in the region.
Overall, Dead River is a significant infrastructure project in Maine that contributes to the state's water resource management efforts. As climate change continues to impact the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, dams like Dead River play a crucial role in mitigating flood risks and protecting communities downstream. With its long history of service and strategic location, Dead River remains a vital component of Maine's water infrastructure network.
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 Dead River -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nezinscot River At Turner Center | 43 cfs | → |
| Little Androscoggin River Near South Paris | 149 cfs | → |
| Androscoggin River Near Auburn | 8,740 cfs | → |
| Cobbosseecontee Stream At Gardiner | 756 cfs | → |
| Androscoggin River At Rumford | 5,730 cfs | → |
| Kennebec River At North Sidney | 10,100 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dead River.
Boat launches
- Howes Corner Road Leeds
- Main Street 620, Wayne
- Federal Road 694, Livermore
- Gulf Island Pond Public Boat Ramp
- Maranacook Lake South Public Boat Ramp
- Lower Narrows Pond Public Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Community Room
- Farmington Conference Center
- Dunn's Campground
- Mount Blue State Park
- Seeds Of Peace Camp
- Hoop Basketball Camp
More reservoirs
Track Dead River 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 Dead River
Where does the data for Dead River 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 Dead River.