Smith Farm is an earth dam located in Aroostook County, Maine, built in 1966. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 800 ft long, taller than 80% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Smith Farm
The primary purpose of Smith Farm 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 Herschel Smith Farm Family Limited Partnership (private). It impounds the Smith Brook.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 180 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/01/2023.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Maine |
| County | Aroostook |
| River/Stream | Smith Brook |
| Coordinates | 46.58203, -67.95964 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 120 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Herschel Smith Farm Family Limited Partnership |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/01/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ME00478 |
| Federal ID | ME00478 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |