Schools Farm Dam dam
Schools Farm Dam
Schools Farm Dam in Aroostook, Maine, is a private irrigation reservoir regulated by the Maine Emergency Management Agency. This earth dam stands at a height of 18 feet with a hydraulic height of 14 feet and a length of 650 feet, providing a normal storage capacity of 90 acre-feet over a surface area of 15 acres. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam's condition was assessed as poor during the last inspection in May 2015, highlighting the need for maintenance and improvements to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Located within the New England District, Schools Farm Dam serves as a vital water resource for agricultural irrigation purposes in the region. With the dam being in poor condition and its emergency action plan lacking updates, there is a pressing need for risk assessment, management measures, and regular inspections to address potential safety concerns and prevent any potential hazards. Engaging stakeholders, implementing maintenance protocols, and investing in infrastructure upgrades are crucial steps to safeguarding this essential water infrastructure for the community.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and weather patterns, ensuring the resilience and functionality of dams like Schools Farm Dam is essential for sustainable water management in the face of evolving environmental challenges. By prioritizing maintenance, risk mitigation, and emergency preparedness, stakeholders can work together to safeguard this critical water infrastructure and maintain a reliable water supply for agricultural needs in the region.
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 Schools Farm Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Meduxnekeag River Near Houlton | 222 cfs | → |
| Meduxnekeag R Above S Br Medux. R Nr Houlton | 170 cfs | → |
| Williams Brook At Phair | 7 cfs | → |
| Aroostook River Near Masardis | 2,060 cfs | → |
| Seboeis River Near Shin Pond | 492 cfs | → |
| Aroostook River At Washburn | 3,510 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Schools Farm Dam.
Boat launches
- Bell Lane Woodstock Parish
- Hartland Covered Bridge Hartland
- 122 North Lake Parish
- Niles Road 38, Presque Isle
Track Schools Farm Dam 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 Schools Farm Dam
Where does the data for Schools Farm Dam 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 Schools Farm Dam.