Mcdonough Brook dam
Mcdonough Brook
Mcdonough Brook is a vital water resource in Oxford, Maine, known for its critical role in flood risk reduction. The dam associated with the brook, completed in 1973, stands at a height of 19 feet and has a storage capacity of 420 acre-feet. It covers a surface area of 30 acres and serves a drainage area of 7.5 square miles. Despite its significance in managing water levels and reducing flood risks, the dam has been assessed to be in poor condition, with a high hazard potential.
Owned and regulated by the local government, Mcdonough Brook is under the jurisdiction of the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), ensuring regular inspection, enforcement, and permitting to maintain its functionality. The dam is designed by the USDA NRCS and falls under the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Located in the New England District, Mcdonough Brook is a key structure in the region's water resource management, although its poor condition and high hazard potential highlight the need for immediate attention and potential risk management measures to safeguard the surrounding community and environment.
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 Mcdonough Brook -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saco River Near Conway | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Wild River At Gilead | 194 cfs | → |
| Androscoggin River Near Gorham | 2,930 cfs | → |
| Little Androscoggin River Near South Paris | 149 cfs | → |
| Saco River At Cornish | 7,900 cfs | → |
| Bearcamp River At South Tamworth | 198 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcdonough Brook.
Boat launches
- Basin Brook Dam Boat Launch
- Conway Lake Boat Launch
- Denmark Road 99, Denmark
- Norway Road Harrison
- Upper Pea Porridge Pond Boat Launch
- Power House Road, Bridgton
Campgrounds
- Province Pond Shelter
- Mountain Pond Shelter
- Baldface Shelter
- Doublehead Cabin
- Basin Pond Campground
- Basin
Track Mcdonough Brook 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 Mcdonough Brook
Where does the data for Mcdonough Brook 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 High 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 Mcdonough Brook.