Pushaw Lake dam
Pushaw Lake
Pushaw Lake in Old Town, Maine, is a privately-owned reservoir situated on Pushaw Stream, with a concrete dam completed in 1920. The dam stands at 8 feet high and has a storage capacity of 22,400 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 13,715 acre-feet. The lake covers an area of 5,056 acres and drains a 137 square mile watershed area.
With a primary purpose of recreation, Pushaw Lake offers a picturesque setting for water enthusiasts and climate advocates to enjoy various outdoor activities. The dam's low hazard potential and "not rated" condition assessment make it a relatively safe and stable structure. The last inspection in October 2018 indicated a low risk level, with an inspection frequency of 12 years.
Pushaw Lake serves as a vital resource for the local community, providing not only recreational opportunities but also contributing to the overall ecological balance of the area. Its significance in water resource management and climate resilience underscores the importance of maintaining and preserving this valuable natural asset 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 Pushaw Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kenduskeag Stream Near Bangor | 344 cfs | → |
| Penobscot River At West Enfield | 17,100 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River At Medford | 2,970 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River Near Dover-Foxcroft | 597 cfs | → |
| Kingsbury Stream At Abbot Village | 172 cfs | → |
| West Br Bear Brook Near Beddington | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pushaw Lake.
Boat launches
- Fourth Street 22, Old Town
- Greenbush
- Snowmobile Trail 7c Holden Holden
- Camp Roosevelt Road 18, Clifton
- Vaughn Road 360, Dover-Foxcroft
- Craig Pond Trail 79, Orland
Campgrounds
- Paul Bunyan Campground
- Cold River Campground
- Star Rock Campsite
- Great Pond Military
- Balsam Cove Campground
- Peaks - Kenny State Park
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Mouth At West Branch Pleasant River
- Ambajejus Falls To The End Of North And South Twin Lakes
More reservoirs
Track Pushaw Lake 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 Pushaw Lake
Where does the data for Pushaw Lake 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 Pushaw Lake.