Chain of Ponds

North Branch Dead River· Franklin, Maine· Built 1900· Concrete· 16 ft tall
Low Hazard Recreation Other Fish And Wildlife Pond State Government

Key Takeaway

Chain of Ponds is classified as low hazard in Maine. It was completed in 1900 and is 126 years old. Its primary use is recreation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 16 ft (taller than 59.6% in ME)
Dam Length433 ft
Dam TypeConcrete
Max Storage3.0K acre-ft
Normal Storage3.0K acre-ft
Surface Area700 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Year Completed1900 (126 years old)
Year Modified1970
NID IDME00130

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: MEMA

Ownership

IFW/State of Maine

State Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Chain of Ponds?

Chain of Ponds is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Chain of Ponds?

Chain of Ponds is owned by IFW/State of Maine (State Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Chain of Ponds built?

Chain of Ponds was completed in 1900, making it 126 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Chain of Ponds?

Chain of Ponds serves the following purposes: Recreation, Other, Fish And Wildlife Pond. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Chain of Ponds?

Chain of Ponds has a dam height of 16 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.