Littlefield River dam
Littlefield River
The Littlefield River in York, Maine, is a vital water resource managed by the local government with oversight from the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). This concrete dam, completed in 1890, serves primarily for flood risk reduction but also supports fire protection, stock maintenance, and small fish ponds. With a height of 11 feet and a storage capacity of 284 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in mitigating potential hazards while maintaining a low hazard potential rating.
The Littlefield River dam covers a drainage area of 22 square miles, with a normal storage capacity of 162 acre-feet and a surface area of 26 acres. The structure has a hydraulic height of 9 feet and a length of 115 feet, contributing to its effective flood risk reduction capabilities. While the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated, it undergoes regular inspections every 12 years to ensure its reliability and safety. Additionally, the presence of an emergency action plan (EAP) and updated emergency contacts highlight the proactive approach taken to manage potential risks and ensure community safety in case of emergencies.
Overall, the Littlefield River dam stands as a crucial infrastructure for water management and flood risk reduction in the region. With its historical significance and continued operational effectiveness, this structure serves as a testament to responsible water resource management and climate resilience efforts 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 Littlefield River -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mousam River Near West Kennebunk | 225 cfs | → |
| Cocheco River Near Rochester | 97 cfs | → |
| Isinglass R At Rochester Neck Rd | 53 cfs | → |
| Saco River At Cornish | 7,160 cfs | → |
| Oyster River Near Durham | 11 cfs | → |
| Presumpscot River At Westbrook | -999,999 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Littlefield River.
Boat launches
- Emery Mills Road 125, Shapleigh
- Landing Road 8, Buxton
- West Shore Road 411, Acton
- Main Street 550, Biddeford
- Norton Ridge Road 99, Shapleigh
- Lovell Lake Road 3198, Acton
Campgrounds
- Ferry Beach Campground
- Wild Duck Campground & Rv Park
- Bayley's Camping Resort
- Old Stage Campground
- Green Tops Campground
- Goodwins Lodge
Track Littlefield River 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 Littlefield River
Where does the data for Littlefield River 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 Littlefield River.