Clay's Pond dam
Clay's Pond
Clay's Pond in Oxford, Maine, is a state-regulated water resource primarily used for recreation, specifically for fishing and wildlife enjoyment. The dam at Clay's Pond is a Timber Crib type, standing at a height of 8 feet with a hydraulic height of 6 feet. Completed in 1977, the dam has a storage capacity of 144 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 21 acres. It serves as a vital habitat for fish and wildlife in the area, while also providing recreational opportunities for visitors.
Despite its low hazard potential, Clay's Pond has been assessed to be in poor condition, with its last inspection conducted in November 2017. The dam's structural height measures 8 feet with a length of 140 feet, ensuring the safety and stability of the surrounding area. The presence of the spillway, with a width of 30 feet, helps regulate water levels and prevent overflowing during periods of heavy rainfall. The pond's drainage area spans 2.2 square miles, contributing to its ecological importance within the region.
Located within the New England District, Clay's Pond offers a serene retreat for water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate the interconnectedness between water management and environmental conservation. With its state-permitted and regulated status, the pond serves as a model for sustainable water use and habitat preservation in the state of Maine.
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 Clay's Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saco River Near Conway | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Saco River At Cornish | 7,900 cfs | → |
| Bearcamp River At South Tamworth | 198 cfs | → |
| Wild River At Gilead | 194 cfs | → |
| Little Androscoggin River Near South Paris | 149 cfs | → |
| Androscoggin River Near Gorham | 2,930 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Clay's Pond.
Boat launches
- Conway Lake Boat Launch
- Denmark Road 99, Denmark
- Upper Pea Porridge Pond Boat Launch
- Eaton Road 2984, Eaton
- Wabunaki Road 10, Denmark
- Dam Road Porter
Campgrounds
- Fiddlehead Campground Showers
- Fiddlehead Campground Checkin And Camp Store
- Fiddlehead Campground B9
- Province Pond Shelter
- Salmon Point City Campground
- Covered Bridge Campground
Track Clay's 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 Clay's Pond
Where does the data for Clay's 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 Clay's Pond.