Moosehead - West Outlet dam
Moosehead - West Outlet
Moosehead - West Outlet, also known as Moosehead Lake West Dam, is a concrete dam located in The Forks, Maine along the Kennebec River. Built in 1835, this hydroelectric dam serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, recreation, and water supply. With a height of 20 feet and a length of 830 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 1,080,000 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 74,200 acres.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Moosehead - West Outlet has a significant hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 50 feet and is equipped with six slide (sluice gate) outlet gates. While the dam's condition assessment is not available, it undergoes regular inspections with a frequency of one inspection per year.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Moosehead - West Outlet's historical significance and multifunctional design intriguing. As a key component in the region's hydroelectric infrastructure, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources, providing recreational opportunities, and ensuring water supply reliability for the surrounding communities. Its impressive storage capacity and risk management measures highlight the importance of responsible dam operations in a changing climate.
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 Moosehead - West Outlet -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch Penobscot River Nr Pittston Farm | 293 cfs | → |
| Kennebec River At The Forks | 1,890 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River At Blanchard | 183 cfs | → |
| Spencer Stream At Mouth | 361 cfs | → |
| Kingsbury Stream At Abbot Village | 128 cfs | → |
| Dead River Near Dead River | 1,330 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Moosehead - West Outlet .
Boat launches
- Kineo Dock Road Rockwood
- Jackman Road 1139, Rockwood
- Burnham Pond Road Maine
- State Route 6 Maine
- Maine
- Poulin Road Maine
Campgrounds
- Beach Haven Campsite
- Casey's Spencer Bay Camps
- Jewett Cove
- Salmon Island
- Lily Bay State Park
- Katahdin Stream - Baxter State Park
Paddle runs
- Kennebec Gorge
- Lobster Lake To Confluence With West Branch
- Pittston Farm To Golden Road Bridge (Approx. 2 Miles Below Lobster Stream)
- Golden Road Bridge (Approx. 2 Miles Below Lobster Stream) To Confluence With Pine Stream
- Canada Falls Lake To Pittston Farm
- Headwaters To Mouth At West Branch Pleasant River
Track Moosehead - West Outlet 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 Moosehead - West Outlet
Where does the data for Moosehead - West Outlet 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 Moosehead - West Outlet .