Emery Mills
Emery Mills is a stone dam located in York County, Maine, built in 1889. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Emery Mills
The primary purpose of Emery Mills is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Sanford (local government). It impounds the Mousam near Sanford.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 210 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,005 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 16,733 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 30 square miles. Completed in 1889, the structure is over a century old.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/12/2021.
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.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Maine |
| County | York |
| Nearest City | Sanford |
| River/Stream | Mousam |
| Coordinates | 43.49354, -70.84728 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Stone |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 210 ft |
| Year Completed | 1889 (137 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16,733 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16,733 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12,713 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,005 acres |
| Drainage Area | 30 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Sanford |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/12/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ME00186 |
| Federal ID | ME00186 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |