Pleasant Pond dam
Pleasant Pond
Pleasant Pond, located in Casco and Otisfield, Maine, is a concrete dam completed in 1850 with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. The dam has a height of 10 feet and a hydraulic height of 8 feet, providing a normal storage capacity of 9200 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 11800 acre-feet. The pond covers a surface area of 1300 acres and has a drainage area of 9.3 square miles, making it an important water resource for the local community.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Pleasant Pond is in good condition with a low hazard potential. While the dam structure is not currently rated, regular inspections are conducted every 12 months to ensure its safety and functionality. With its multiple purposes including fire protection, recreation, and water supply, Pleasant Pond serves as a valuable asset for the surrounding area, providing both environmental and practical benefits to residents and wildlife alike.
Visitors to Pleasant Pond can enjoy its scenic beauty, engage in recreational activities, and appreciate its role in flood risk reduction and water resource management. With its historical significance dating back to the 19th century, Pleasant Pond stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water infrastructure and the preservation of natural resources in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Pleasant Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin River Near Auburn | 8,740 cfs | → |
| Saco River At Cornish | 7,900 cfs | → |
| Little Androscoggin River Near South Paris | 149 cfs | → |
| Presumpscot River At Westbrook | -999,999 cfs | → |
| Nezinscot River At Turner Center | 43 cfs | → |
| Saco River Near Conway | 1,580 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pleasant Pond.
Boat launches
- Hinds Road Raymond
- Pismo Beach Road 38, Oxford
- Power House Road, Bridgton
- Peabody Pond Public Boat Launch
- Norway Road Harrison
- Wabunaki Road 10, Denmark
Campgrounds
- Hoop Basketball Camp
- Laurel South
- Seeds Of Peace Camp
- Office/Recreation Hall
- Migis Lodge
- Dunn's Campground
More reservoirs
Track Pleasant 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 Pleasant Pond
Where does the data for Pleasant 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 Pleasant Pond.