Colton Brook
Colton Brook is an earth dam located in Oxford County, Maine, built in 1969. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Colton Brook
The primary purpose of Colton Brook 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 Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Colton Brook.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1969, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 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 10/13/2023.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Maine |
| County | Oxford |
| River/Stream | Colton Brook |
| Coordinates | 44.21856, -70.98305 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 280 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ME00309 |
| Federal ID | ME00309 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |