Lake Auburn

About Lake Auburn

The primary purpose of Lake Auburn is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission (public utility). It impounds the Bobbin Mill Brook.

The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 80 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,300 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 34,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 18 square miles. Completed in 1946, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/05/2022.

Living Downstream

If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Maine dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.

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