First Davis Pond dam
First Davis Pond
First Davis Pond is a privately owned reservoir located in Piscataquis, Maine, along Davis Brook. Built in 1900, this gravity dam stands at a height of 8 feet and has a storage capacity of 770 acre-feet, primarily used for recreational purposes. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment that is currently not rated, the dam is regulated by the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and undergoes regular inspections and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
While the dam itself has not been modified in recent years and lacks specific features like spillways or outlet gates, it remains a vital water resource for the surrounding area. The reservoir has a normal storage capacity of 490 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 0 acres. Despite its relatively small size, First Davis Pond serves as a key recreational spot for water enthusiasts and nature lovers in the region. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment measures are currently not specified, suggesting a potential area for improvement in emergency preparedness and management.
Overall, First Davis Pond presents an intriguing case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts. As a privately owned dam in rural Maine, it showcases the intersection of human infrastructure, environmental conservation, and recreational opportunities. With its historical significance dating back over a century, the dam continues to play a role in providing water storage and leisure activities for the local community. Monitoring and ensuring the safety of this dam will be crucial in maintaining its functionality and preserving the surrounding ecosystem 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 First Davis Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kingsbury Stream At Abbot Village | 128 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River Near Dover-Foxcroft | 386 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River At Blanchard | 183 cfs | → |
| Austin Stream At Bingham | 112 cfs | → |
| Kennebec River At Bingham | 6,390 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River At Medford | 2,240 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near First Davis Pond.
Boat launches
- Boat Landing Road 20, Piscataquis County
- Vaughn Road 360, Dover-Foxcroft
- State Route 6 Maine
- West Shore Road Caratunk
- Burnham Pond Road Maine
Campgrounds
- Peaks - Kenny State Park
- Lily Bay State Park
- Beach Haven Campsite
- Casey's Spencer Bay Camps
- Harrison’S Pierce Pond Camp
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Mouth At West Branch Pleasant River
- Kennebec Gorge
- Lobster Lake To Confluence With West Branch
- Ambajejus Falls To The End Of North And South Twin Lakes
- Golden Road Bridge (Approx. 2 Miles Below Lobster Stream) To Confluence With Pine Stream
- Headwaters To Confluence With West Branch Penobscot River
Track First Davis 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 First Davis Pond
Where does the data for First Davis 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 First Davis Pond.