Ellis Dam is a rockfill dam located in Waldo County, Maine, built in 1850. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 15 ft15 ft tall and 235 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 Ellis Dam
The primary purpose of Ellis Dam 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 Bessey Development Co. (private). It impounds the Passagassawakeag near Hinkley.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 235 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 93 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 625 acre-feet. Completed in 1850, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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. The most recent inspection on record was 07/16/1997. That was over 29 years ago.
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Location
| State | Maine |
| County | Waldo |
| Nearest City | Hinkley |
| River/Stream | Passagassawakeag |
| Coordinates | 44.49575, -69.12868 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 235 ft |
| Year Completed | 1850 (176 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 625 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 625 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 525 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 93 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Bessey Development Co. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/16/1997 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ME00246 |
| Federal ID | ME00246 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |