Gauge Description:

Releases through much of the summer. Call Great Northern at 207-723-5131 or 207-723-2328.

River Flow information
Low: 1800 cfs	Medium: 2400 cfs	High: 3000 cfs
 Phone Line: (207)723-4341 Extension 163

Flow Info
For current flow information go to the Great Lakes Hydro America website and look under McKay Station.

Release information May 2003

First a little background information. The West Branch of the Penobscot and several other headwater rivers of interest to boaters are all controlled by dams that are (or used to be) owned by the Paper Mills in Millinocket. These paper mills used the power generated from these dams for paper production. These mills closed last year because of financial difficulties. As a result releases at this time are not as certain as they used to be. The following message was posted by Gary Bamburger on May 21st, 2003.
Good News/Bad News on the Penobscot River...First the bad news- Current levels have gone even lower to the following: Canada Falls=71CFS, Seboomook=413CFS and McKay Station(Ripogenus)=800CFS. The good news (somewhat) is that today I called up to the New England Outdoor Center in Millinocket and spoke with "Sandy". She said with the closures of the mills in Millinocket and E. Millinocket the river managers are currently "holding back water" hoping the new owners of the mills will get them open soon. The East Millinocket mill is scheduled to open this summer but the Millinocket mill may not. The river manager states that there will be some water released this weekend (and next weekend) @ McKay Station on Saturday and Sunday 8AM-2PM @ 1600CFS. He anticipates these low levels are a May thing only and levels should increase to more normal numbers as the summer season progresses...The low levels do not indicate low water levels in the west branch drainage, just a conservation of water since it is not currently needed for power.