Norway Lake is a stone dam located in Oxford County, Maine, built in 1930. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 16 ft16 ft tall and 80 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic rockfill embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Norway Lake
The primary purpose of Norway Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Norway (local government). It impounds the Pennesseewassee.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 80 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 922 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,688 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 36 square miles. Completed in 1930, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/16/2023.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Maine |
| County | Oxford |
| River/Stream | Pennesseewassee |
| Coordinates | 44.21333, -70.54611 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Stone |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 80 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,688 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,688 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 922 acres |
| Drainage Area | 36 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Norway |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/16/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ME00017 |
| Federal ID | ME00017 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |