Jordan Pond dam
Jordan Pond
Jordan Pond, located in Hancock, Maine, is a concrete gravity dam that serves as a vital water supply source for the area. Built in 1920, this dam stands at a height of 7 feet and has a storage capacity of 2,685 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 2,238 acre-feet. The dam spans 160 feet in length and covers a surface area of 192 acres, drawing water from the Jordan Stream.
Managed by the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Jordan Pond is state-regulated, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures in place to ensure its safe operation. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment remains unrated, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to uphold its integrity. With a designated emergency action plan (EAP) yet to be prepared, there is room for improvement in risk management and response protocols for this essential water resource.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Jordan Pond to be a fascinating structure that plays a critical role in providing water supply to the surrounding area. As a concrete dam with a long history and a capacity to withstand low hazard levels, it represents a key piece of infrastructure that requires careful oversight and maintenance to ensure continued safe operation. With its location in the picturesque landscape of Hancock, Maine, Jordan Pond serves as a reminder of the intersection between human engineering and natural beauty, making it a noteworthy site for those interested in the intersection of water management and environmental conservation.
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 Jordan Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Narraguagus River At Cherryfield | 338 cfs | → |
| East Br Bear Brook Near Beddington | 0 cfs | → |
| West Br Bear Brook Near Beddington | 1 cfs | → |
| Ducktrap River Near Lincolnville | 35 cfs | → |
| Libby Brook Near Northfield | 8 cfs | → |
| Kenduskeag Stream Near Bangor | 251 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Jordan Pond.
Boat launches
- Eagle Lake Carriage Road Bar Harbor
- Great Cove Drive 116, Brooklin
- Town Landing Sedgwick
- Pinkham Bay Bridge Road 71, Steuben
- Back Shore Road 139, Steuben
- Little Deer Isle Road 204, Deer Isle
Track Jordan 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 Jordan Pond
Where does the data for Jordan 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 Jordan Pond.