Rocky Bottom dam
Rocky Bottom
Rocky Bottom is a private hydroelectric dam located in Dixmont, Maine, along Wellman's Pond. Built in 1965, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 20 feet and spans 225 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet. The dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock maintenance, and wildlife preservation.
Managed by the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Rocky Bottom is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with safety standards. Despite being classified as having low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment remains unrated. The surrounding area, known for its scenic beauty and vital water resources, benefits from the dam's contribution to hydroelectric power generation and environmental conservation efforts.
With Jared F. Golden representing the New England District, Rocky Bottom represents a unique intersection of water resource management, climate resilience, and energy production. As enthusiasts and stakeholders in water resource and climate matters, the presence of Rocky Bottom highlights the importance of sustainable infrastructure development and regulatory oversight in safeguarding both natural ecosystems and human communities in Maine.
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 Rocky Bottom -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kenduskeag Stream Near Bangor | 179 cfs | → |
| Ducktrap River Near Lincolnville | 28 cfs | → |
| Kennebec River At North Sidney | 10,100 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River Near Dover-Foxcroft | 352 cfs | → |
| Kingsbury Stream At Abbot Village | 113 cfs | → |
| Piscataquis River At Medford | 1,930 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rocky Bottom.
Boat launches
- Prairie Road 21, Unity
- Snowmobile Trail 7c Holden Holden
- Craig Pond Trail 79, Orland
- Acadia Highway 1117, East Orland
- Causeway Road 71, China
- Water Street, Castine
Campgrounds
- Paul Bunyan Campground
- Cold River Campground
- Balsam Cove Campground
- Lake St. George State Park
- Star Rock Campsite
More reservoirs
Track Rocky Bottom 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 Rocky Bottom
Where does the data for Rocky Bottom 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 Rocky Bottom.