Mill Brook dam
Mill Brook
Mill Brook, also known as Mill Stream, Half Way Stream, or Opeechee Stream, is a private water resource located in Searsport, Maine. This concrete dam was completed in 1900 and serves primarily for fire protection, stock, or as a small fish pond. With a height of 16 feet and a length of 90 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 55 acre-feet.
Managed by the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and regulated by the state, Mill Brook is classified as having low hazard potential and is currently not rated for its condition assessment. The dam is regularly inspected, with the last inspection date recorded as December 31, 1899, and a frequency of 12 inspections per year. Despite its age, this water structure remains an important asset for the local community, providing essential services while also contributing to the overall ecological balance of the area.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in the Waldo County area may find interest in the historical significance and functional diversity of Mill Brook. As a key feature in the landscape of Searsport, this dam offers a glimpse into the past while also highlighting the importance of maintaining and managing water resources for present and future generations. With its unique characteristics and private ownership, Mill Brook stands as a testament to the enduring relationship between humans and water, serving both practical and recreational purposes in the local ecosystem.
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 Mill Brook -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ducktrap River Near Lincolnville | 28 cfs | → |
| Kenduskeag Stream Near Bangor | 179 cfs | → |
| Sheepscot River At North Whitefield | 329 cfs | → |
| Kennebec River At North Sidney | 10,100 cfs | → |
| Cobbosseecontee Stream At Gardiner | 756 cfs | → |
| West Br Bear Brook Near Beddington | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mill Brook.
Boat launches
- Water Street, Castine
- Acadia Highway 1117, East Orland
- Craig Pond Trail 79, Orland
- Little Deer Isle Road 204, Deer Isle
- Turnpike Drive Camden
- Megunticook Lake
Campgrounds
- Balsam Cove Campground
- Camden Hills State Park
- Oceanfront Camping @ Reach Knolls
- Lake St. George State Park
- Mic Mac Ln, Llc
- Paul Bunyan Campground
More reservoirs
Track Mill Brook 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 Mill Brook
Where does the data for Mill Brook 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 Mill Brook.