Collins Mills dam
Collins Mills
Collins Mills, located in Kennebec, Maine, is a concrete dam completed in 1830 with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. This structure on Cobbosseecontee Stream has a height of 15 feet and a length of 200 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 756 acre-feet. The dam also serves recreational purposes and supports fish and wildlife in the area.
Managed by the local government, Collins Mills is regulated and inspected by the Maine Emergency Management Agency to ensure safety and compliance with state regulations. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment that is currently not rated, the dam poses minimal risk to surrounding areas. The last inspection in October 2019 revealed no immediate concerns, indicating a well-maintained structure that continues to support its intended functions.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Collins Mills represents a historic piece of infrastructure that plays a vital role in local fire protection, wildlife support, and recreational activities. As part of the New England District, this dam stands as a testament to early engineering achievements and ongoing efforts to manage water resources effectively and sustainably. The collaborative management between local and state agencies ensures the continued safety and functionality of Collins Mills for the benefit of the community and the environment.
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 Collins Mills -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cobbosseecontee Stream At Gardiner | 726 cfs | → |
| Sheepscot River At North Whitefield | 312 cfs | → |
| Nezinscot River At Turner Center | 43 cfs | → |
| Kennebec River At North Sidney | 8,390 cfs | → |
| Androscoggin River Near Auburn | 7,760 cfs | → |
| Sandy River Near Mercer | 1,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Collins Mills .
Boat launches
- Litchfield
- Cobbosseeconte Lake Boat Launch
- Lower Narrows Pond Public Boat Ramp
- Robbins Lane 18, Winthrop
- Maranacook Lake South Public Boat Ramp
- Main Street 620, Wayne
Track Collins Mills 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 Collins Mills
Where does the data for Collins Mills 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 Collins Mills .