Colcord Pond dam
Colcord Pond
Colcord Pond, located in Porter, Maine, is a picturesque water resource managed by the local government for recreational purposes. Built in 1919, this concrete dam stands at a height of 11 feet and has a hydraulic height of 6 feet, with a storage capacity of 2544 acre-feet. The pond covers an area of 243 acres and has a drainage area of 3.2 square miles, making it a vital habitat for fish and wildlife in the region.
Despite its scenic beauty, Colcord Pond is currently rated as having a significant hazard potential and poor structural condition. The dam, with a length of 180 feet, requires regular inspections every 6 years to ensure its safety and integrity. The State of Maine, through the MEMA regulatory agency, oversees permitting, inspection, and enforcement of dam safety regulations to protect the surrounding communities from potential risks associated with the dam.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the management and maintenance of Colcord Pond become increasingly crucial. With its historical significance and recreational value, efforts to improve its condition and mitigate risks will be essential for preserving this beloved natural asset for future generations of water resource and climate enthusiasts.
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 Colcord Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saco River At Cornish | 7,900 cfs | → |
| Saco River Near Conway | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Bearcamp River At South Tamworth | 198 cfs | → |
| Mousam River Near West Kennebunk | 267 cfs | → |
| Presumpscot River At Westbrook | -999,999 cfs | → |
| Pemigewasset River At Plymouth | 1,900 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Colcord Pond.
Boat launches
- Dam Road Porter
- Tripptown Road 28, Hiram
- Ossipee River Boat Launch
- Eaton Road 2984, Eaton
- Pine River Boat Launch
- Upper Pea Porridge Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Fiddlehead Campground Showers
- Fiddlehead Campground Checkin And Camp Store
- Fiddlehead Campground B9
- Goodwins Lodge
- Goodwins Lodge Cabin 6
- Jim Liberty Cabin
Paddle runs
- Thornton Railroad Bridge To Bridgewater/Bristol Town Line
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
- Headwaters At Profile Lake To Southern Boundary Of Franconia Notch State Park
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
Track Colcord 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 Colcord Pond
Where does the data for Colcord 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 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 Colcord Pond.