Gauge Description:

This river is primarily dam controlled, although it usually runs after periods of heavy rain. The two USGS gages on the Dead River were retired years ago. Remains of the [outside visible] staff gages however still exist, and they can be used to verify water levels. There is a gage on Spencer Stream near the put-in.

Scheduled Releases

Dam-controlled: min 1200 cfs (quite bony); at about 2400 cfs, the rocks get more padded and the water, more fun. For release levels call 1-800-557-FLOW; select "Kennebec" and "Flagstaff" to get the flow from Long Falls Dam (Flagstaff Lake), or call FPL Energy at 207-795-1342.


Kennebec Water Power Company
2008 Dead River Release Schedule
Date Flow Date Flow
Sat, May 3rd 7000+ cfs Sun, Jun 29th 1300 cfs until 1 pm
Sat, May 10th 7000+ cfs Sat, Jul 5th 1300 cfs until 1pm
Sat, May 24th 2400 cfs Sun, Jul 6th 1800 cfs until 1pm
Sun, May 25th 5500+ cfs Sat, Jul 26th 2400 cfs until 1 pm
Sat, May 31st 5500+ cfs  Sun, Jul 27th 1800 cfs until 1 pm
Sat, Aug 9th 2400 cfs until 1 pm
Sat, Jun 7th 5500+ cfs
release ends at 1pm		 Sun, Aug 10th 3500 cfs until 1 pm
Sun, Aug 31st 5500 cfs until 1 pm
Sat, Jun 21st 3500 cfs
release ends at 1pm		 Sat, Sep 13th 3500 cfs until 1 pm
Sat, Jun 28th 1800 cfs until 1:00 pm Sat, Oct 4th Full Open up to 6000 cfs
until 1 pm
Gauge: Long Falls Dam Minimum level: 1200 cfs, >= 4500 cfs is class IV
1-800-557-3569 Dial F or 3 for Long Falls Dam
Additional Release Notes from FPL Energy:

We will be releasing water from the dam as necessary to provide the above flows directly below Spencer Stream.

Kennebec Water Power Company hopes you enjoy these recreational opportunities in a safe manner. Proposed releases are subject to change due to license restrictions, current availability of water and/or unanticipated weather/water conditions.

Carol Clark
River Engineer
(Happy retirement to Wes Hallowell, thanks for many years of great service.)

USGS Gage—Spencer Stream at Mouth

Gage ID: 01044550, Location: 45d 18m 07s, -70d 13m 26s.
A new gage at the mouth of Spencer Stream next to the Dead River put-in was recently installed. In addition to showing natural inflow from Spencer into the Dead, it also is affected by Dead releases. River level information is being collected to help create a correlation chart to enable Spencer Stream readings to be translated to estimated Dead flow levels. Please send any gage observations and river flow measurements to the Streamkeeper.

USGS Gage—Dead River at The Forks

Gage ID: 01045000, Location: 45d 20m 57s, -69d 59m 25s.
This gage is retired. It was in use from 1911 through 1979. The gage house was dismantled and removed in May 17, 1999. The river at this location has a drainage area of 867 square miles.

The staff gage is located above what is now the Magic Falls rafting facility; drive up 75-100 yards past the cemetery and look for a path leading down to the water. The gage is in two parts; the upper fastened to a tree, and the lower sticking out of the river bank. It is heavily overgrown with grass and brush and hard to find. Note that you must add 3.0 feet to readings on the lower section to match the chart below. The physical condition in 2007 was poor.

The gage correlation chart below was compiled by an unknown paddler. It has been verified as coming from Rating Table 3.0; valid from 3/28/56 thru 11/3/78. Recent (2007) river observations against other known measurements show that the information is still reasonably accurate.

Transcribed in 1993 by hand by the Streamkeeper from an old copy posted at Ed Webb's campground. Reproduced exactly as posted at Webb's in years past. 

                     Dead River Gage Correlations

  Gage is located river left upstream of New England White Water
  (where the CMP parking lot is located) and the cemetery on a tree
  approximately 50 feet upstream of the disused USGS gage-house.  The
  gage is easily accessable by car by following the road through NEWW.
  The gage levels and corresponding CFS are provided by USGS survey.

      GAGE     CFS            GAGE    CFS             GAGE    CFS

      2.50     835            4.50    4555            6.50    10300
      2.60     965            4.60    4795            6.60    10630
      2.70    1095            4.70    5035            6.70    10980
      2.80    1240            4.80    5285            6.80    11350
      2.90    1390            4.90    5545            6.90    11710
      3.00    1550            5.00    5810            7.00    12090
      3.10    1715            5.10    6075
      3.20    1890            5.20    6350
      3.30    2065            5.30    6630
      3.40    2250            5.40    6910
      3.50    2440            5.50    7195
      3.60    2635            5.60    7490
      3.70    2830            5.70    7785
      3.80    3025            5.80    8085
      3.90    3230            5.90    8390
      4.00    3440            6.00    8695
      4.10    3650            6.10    9010
      4.20    3870            6.20    9325
      4.30    4095            6.30    9645
      4.40    4320            6.40    9970            9.60    23200


USGS Gage—Dead River near Dead River Maine

Gage ID: 01043500, Location: 45d 13m 49.65s, -70d 11m 59.4s.
This gage is retired. It was in use from 1940 through 1982. The river at this location has a drainage area of 516 square miles.

The remains of the gage can be found near the bridge just below dam outflow on Flagstaff Lake (near Grand Falls). The physical condition in 2007 was unknown.