Dunham Brook is an earth dam located in Piscataquis County, Maine, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 18 ft18 ft tall and 1,960 ft long. 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 Dunham Brook
The primary purpose of Dunham 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 local government-owned. It impounds the Dunham Brook near Dover-foxcroft.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 1,960 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 65 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 10/03/2022.
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 | Piscataquis |
| Nearest City | Dover-foxcroft |
| River/Stream | Dunham Brook |
| Coordinates | 45.18667, -69.25333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,960 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 510 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,962 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/03/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ME96075 |
| Federal ID | ME96075 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |