Montsweag dam
Montsweag
Montsweag is a concrete dam located in Woolwich, Maine, along the Montsweag Brook (Upper). Completed in 1941, this structure stands at 18 feet in height and has a hydraulic height of 14 feet. With a storage capacity of 196 acre-feet, it serves as a vital water resource in the region. The dam's primary purpose is categorized as "Other," with a low hazard potential and a condition assessment that is currently not rated.
Owned and regulated by the local government, Montsweag Dam is subject to state jurisdiction and oversight by the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). It is equipped with a spillway width of 52 feet and has a normal storage capacity of 150 acre-feet. Despite not being rated for condition assessment, the dam is inspected annually, with the most recent inspection conducted in May 2020. With its strategic location and vital role in water management, Montsweag Dam plays a crucial role in the climate resilience and water resource management of the area, making it an important site for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor and study.
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 Montsweag -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cobbosseecontee Stream At Gardiner | 726 cfs | → |
| Sheepscot River At North Whitefield | 312 cfs | → |
| Androscoggin River Near Auburn | 7,760 cfs | → |
| Nezinscot River At Turner Center | 43 cfs | → |
| Kennebec River At North Sidney | 8,390 cfs | → |
| Presumpscot River At Westbrook | -999,999 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Montsweag.
Boat launches
- North End Boat Launch
- Anchor Road 5, Bath
- South End Boat Launch
- Town Landing Road 13, Bristol
- Water Street Boat Landing
- Holbrook Street 73, Harpswell
Campgrounds
- Chewonki Campground
- Sagadahoc Bay Campground
- Tops'l Farm
- Head Beach Campground
- Hermit Island Campground
- Recompense Campground
More reservoirs
Track Montsweag 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 Montsweag
Where does the data for Montsweag 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 Montsweag.