Gristmill Pond dam
Gristmill Pond
Gristmill Pond in Maine is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation. Built in 1978, this concrete dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a hydraulic height of 7 feet. With a storage capacity of 1446 acre-feet and a drainage area of 16.6 square miles, the pond covers 117 acres and serves multiple purposes including fish and wildlife preservation and recreational activities.
Despite its low hazard potential, Gristmill Pond's condition assessment in 2011 deemed it unsatisfactory. With an inspection frequency of 12 months, the dam's safety and maintenance are continuously monitored by the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). Located on the Eskutassis River in Penobscot County, Gristmill Pond plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate adaptation efforts in the region.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate change will find Gristmill Pond to be an intriguing case study in the intersection of infrastructure development, environmental conservation, and disaster risk management. With its historical significance as a hydroelectric facility and its ongoing regulatory oversight by MEMA, Gristmill Pond exemplifies the complex challenges and opportunities present in managing water resources in a changing climate.
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 Gristmill Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Penobscot River At West Enfield | 17,100 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River At Medford | 2,970 cfs | → |
| Mattawamkeag River Near Mattawamkeag | 3,650 cfs | → |
| West Br Bear Brook Near Beddington | 1 cfs | → |
| East Br Bear Brook Near Beddington | 0 cfs | → |
| Kenduskeag Stream Near Bangor | 344 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gristmill Pond.
Boat launches
- Folsom Pond Road 500, Lincoln
- Aldrich Point Road Lincoln
- West Broadway 735, Lincoln
- Lake Street Lincoln
- Greenbush
- Fourth Street 22, Old Town
Campgrounds
- Great Pond Military
- Mattawamkeag Wilderness Park
- Fifth Stream Campsite
- Cold River Campground
- Katahdin Shadows Campground
- Third Lake Outlet Camp
Track Gristmill 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 Gristmill Pond
Where does the data for Gristmill 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 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 Gristmill Pond.