Swans Falls is a concrete dam located in Oxford County, Maine, built in 1923. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 10 ft10 ft tall and 630 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Swans Falls
The primary purpose of Swans Falls is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Saco River Hydro, LLC (private). It impounds the Saco River near Fryeburg.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 630 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 150 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 535 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 446 square miles. Completed in 1923, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 06/11/2019.
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Location
| State | Maine |
| County | Oxford |
| Nearest City | Fryeburg |
| River/Stream | Saco River |
| Coordinates | 44.03790, -70.98330 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 630 ft |
| Year Completed | 1923 (103 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 535 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 535 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 450 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 150 acres |
| Drainage Area | 446 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 50,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Saco River Hydro, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/11/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ME00038 |
| Federal ID | ME00038 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |