Wassookeag Lake
Wassookeag Lake is a rockfill dam located in Penobscot County, Maine, built in 1914. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Wassookeag Lake
The primary purpose of Wassookeag Lake 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 Dexter (local government). It impounds the Eb Sebasticook near Dexter.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,064 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 12,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1914, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/25/2021.
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 |
| County | Penobscot |
| Nearest City | Dexter |
| River/Stream | Eb Sebasticook |
| Coordinates | 45.02724, -69.28884 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1914 (112 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,064 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Dexter |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/25/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ME00356 |
| Federal ID | ME00356 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |