Grand Falls
Grand Falls is a concrete dam located in County, Maine, built in 1915. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Grand Falls
The primary purpose of Grand 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 Woodland Pulp Llc (private). It impounds the Saint Croix.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 1,135 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18,040 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 149,600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,320 square miles. Completed in 1915, 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 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 10/12/2022.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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 |
| River/Stream | Saint Croix |
| Coordinates | 45.27611, -67.47889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,135 ft |
| Year Completed | 1915 (111 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 149,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 149,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 88,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18,040 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,320 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Woodland Pulp LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/12/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ME00219 |
| Federal ID | ME00219 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |