Megunticook West
Megunticook West is an earth dam located in Knox County, Maine, built in 1900. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Megunticook West
The primary purpose of Megunticook West is fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The dam maintains a small impoundment used for fire suppression, livestock watering, or as a fish pond. The dam is owned by Camden, Town Of (local government). It impounds the Megunticook near Camden.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 109 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,305 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,050 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 32 square miles. Completed in 1900, 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 09/23/2021.
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 | Knox |
| Nearest City | Camden |
| River/Stream | Megunticook |
| Coordinates | 44.23558, -69.10037 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 109 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,050 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,050 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10,440 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,305 acres |
| Drainage Area | 32 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | Camden, Town of |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/23/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ME00279 |
| Federal ID | ME00279 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |