Songo Lock

Songo River· Cumberland, Maine· Built 1830· Concrete· 19 ft tall
Low Hazard Navigation Recreation State Government

Key Takeaway

Songo Lock is classified as low hazard in Maine. It was completed in 1830 and is 196 years old. Its primary use is navigation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 19 ft (taller than 72.9% in ME)
Dam Length160 ft
Dam TypeConcrete
Max Storage18.3K acre-ft
Normal Storage12.2K acre-ft
Surface Area5,629 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Year Completed1830 (196 years old)
Year Modified1985
NID IDME00339

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
Last Inspection: December 10, 2015
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: MEMA

Ownership

State of Maine, Bureau of Parks and Lands

State Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Songo Lock?

Songo Lock 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 Songo Lock?

Songo Lock is owned by State of Maine, Bureau of Parks and Lands (State Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Songo Lock built?

Songo Lock was completed in 1830, making it 196 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 Songo Lock?

Songo Lock serves the following purposes: Navigation, Recreation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Songo Lock?

Songo Lock has a dam height of 19 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.

When was Songo Lock last inspected?

Songo Lock was last inspected on December 10, 2015. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

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.