Sawyer's Pond dam
Sawyer's Pond
Sawyer's Pond, also known as Southport, is a picturesque water resource located in Lincoln, Maine. Owned by the local government, this earth dam structure was completed in 1935 and primarily serves as a fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. With a dam height of 20 feet and a hydraulic height of 18 feet, the pond has a normal storage capacity of 72 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 9 acres.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, Sawyer's Pond is currently assessed as being in poor condition with a significant hazard potential. The last inspection in October 2019 revealed concerns about the dam's structural integrity, prompting a frequent inspection schedule of every 6 months. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) is reportedly outdated, raising further concerns about the management of potential risks and the safety of the surrounding community.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to advocate for the proper maintenance and restoration of Sawyer's Pond to ensure its continued functionality and safety. By working with local authorities and relevant agencies like MEMA, efforts can be made to address the dam's poor condition, update the emergency action plan, and implement risk management measures to protect the pond and its downstream areas from potential hazards. Let's come together to safeguard this valuable water resource and preserve its beauty for future generations to enjoy.
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 Sawyer's Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sheepscot River At North Whitefield | 312 cfs | → |
| Cobbosseecontee Stream At Gardiner | 726 cfs | → |
| Androscoggin River Near Auburn | 7,760 cfs | → |
| Presumpscot River At Westbrook | -999,999 cfs | → |
| Nezinscot River At Turner Center | 43 cfs | → |
| Kennebec River At North Sidney | 8,390 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sawyer's Pond.
Boat launches
- Town Landing Road 13, Bristol
- South End Boat Launch
- North End Boat Launch
- Anchor Road 5, Bath
- Holbrook Street 73, Harpswell
- Bethel Point Road 350, Harpswell
Track Sawyer's 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 Sawyer's Pond
Where does the data for Sawyer's 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 Significant 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 Sawyer's Pond.