 Water Flows
July Water Flows
For up to date info call
Kennebec River - 800-557-3569
Penobscot River - 888-323-4341
* Always be aware that water flow may change at any time.
July 24
East Outlet-1864
Brassua Dam- 793
Mckay Station-3200
Canada Falls Dam-250
Seboomook Dam-543
July 23
East Outlet - 1860
Brassua Dam - 793
Rip Dam/McKay Station - 3200
Seboomook Dam - 561
Canada Falls Dam - 86
Roach River - 94
July 22
The only change is Brassua Dam has been dropped to 793 cfs.
July 21
No changes
July 20
No changes
July19
East Outlet 1860
No other changes
July 18
No changes
July 17
McKay Sta/Rip Dam-3195
No other changes.
July 16
East Outlet-2060
Brassua-1600
McKay Station-3222
July 15
East Outlet-1865
Brassua Dam-809
Mckay Station/Rip Dam-3500
Canada Falls Dam-86
Seboomook Dam -432
Caucomogomoc Dam-183
July14
Brassua Dam-890
No other changes
July 12
East Outlet-1865
Brassua -has gone back up to -1632
Mckay Station/Rip Dam - 3191
Canada Falls-600 today only -then back to 86
No other changes
July 11
No changes
July 10
Only one change today but it's one everyone has been waiting for!!
Brassua Dam - 653
Finally at a wadeable level.
July 9
East Outlet-3260
Mckay Station-3270
No other changes
July 8
East Outlet-3200
Brassua Dam- 1653
McKay Station-2261
Canada Falls-86
Seboomook-432
Caucomogomoc-322
July 7
No changes
July 6
East Outlet - 2569
Brassua Dam - 1653
Rip Dam/McKay Station - 3190
Seboomook Dam - 688
Canada Falls Dam - 104
July 5
East Outlet - 2500
Brassua Dam - 1653
Rip Dam/McKay Station - N/A
Seboomook Dam - 688
Canada Falls Dam - 512
At Canada Falls Dam weekend releases during the summer and fall are done for the white water folks. The normal summer flows are usually around 100 cfs during the week and 500 cfs on Saturday.
**Happy July 4th**
East Outlet - 3000 at 6:00 am but scheduled to drop to 2500 sometime today (probably in the am)
Brassua Dam - 2000
Rip Dam/McKay Station - 3200 to 3500
Seboomook Dam - 615
Canada Falls Dam - 104
Roach River - 94
Rip Dam/McKay Station flows change over the course of the day. The flow at their web site is updated every 5 minutes so what you see at 6:00 am does not hold true throughout the day. It is generally ramped up to + - 3500 during most of the day and ramped back down in the evening.
NEWS FLASH!!!
Mike the dam keeper at the East Outlet just called to tell us the flow is being reduced to 3064 today July 3rd and probably will be dropped to 2500 tomorrow the 4th.
There is a fish God and he is watching over all the July 4th fishermen.
July 3
The only change in flow today is Brassua Dam which will be dropped to 2738
July 2
East Outlet - 3973
West Outlet - 145
Brassua Dam - 3678
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 3172
Seboomook Dam - 848
Canada Falls Dam - 208
Roach River - 94 (summer flow)
July 1
The only changes are
Seboomook Dam - 1240
Canada Falls Dam - 412
June 30
East Outlet - 3973
Brassua Dam - 3678
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 3141
Seboomook Dam - 2392
Canada Falls Dam - 1031
Roach River - 94
Whoever keeps doing a rain dance needs to stop!!
June 29
The only change is Seboomook Dam dropped to 506
June 28
East Outlet - 3973
Brassua Dam - 3760
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 3141
Seboomook Dam - 1817
Canada Falls Dam - 104
June 27
The only change is Seboomook Dam - 2316
June 26
Seboomook Dam - 1826
Canada Falls Dam - 1997
No other changes
June 25
East Outlet - 3962
Brassua Dam - 2860
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 3161
Seboomook Dam - 866
Canada Falls Dam - 310
Things are starting to come around. The E.O should be dropping even more in a day or so.
June 24
East Outlet - 6690
Brassua Dam- 2730
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 3161
Seboomook Dam - 4520
Canada Falls Dam - 1997
Roach River - 184
The E.O. and Moose are slowly creeping down. We should continue to see water drop over the next few days. Keep your fingers crossed.
June 23
East Outlet - 9390
Brassua Dam - 4758
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 3656
No real changes on the rest
If we do not get any measurable rain today levels should continue to slowly drop.
June 22
No Changes
June 21
East Outlet-12,300
West Outlet-145
Brassua Dam-5800
McKay Station/Rip Dam-3174
Seboomook Dam - 3764
Canada Falls-1997
Roach River - 184
June 20
East Outlet - 10,500
West Outlet - 145
Brasua Dam - 8450
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 3145
Seboomook Dam - 4538
Canada Falls Dam - 935
Roach River - 125
- You'll notice I posted the flow at the West Outlet of the Kennebec. That flow always remains constant and fishable/wadable year round.
June 19
East Outlet - 10,500
Brassua-7100
McKay Station/Rip Dam-3138
Seboomook Dam 4570
June 18
East Outlet - 6800
Brassua Lake - 3800
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 3200
Seboomook Dam - 1817
Canada Falls Dam - 935
June 17
Today's only changes are:
Brassua -now 1830
Seboomook-now 570
June16
East Outlet -3227
Brassua Dam -2082
McKay Station/Rip Dam -3198
Canada Falls -524
Seboomook - 1153
Caucomogomoc -122
June 11
East Outlet-1419
Brassua Dam -1350
Mckay Station/Rip Dam- 3349
Canada Falls-211 thru June 14
Seboomook -448 thru June14
Caucomogomoc -51 thru June14
Roach River-125 summer flows
June 9
East Outlet - 1008
Brassua Dam - 1350
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 2435
no other changes
June 7
No changes
June 6
East Outlet-1000
Brassua Dam-1350
McKay Station/Rip Dam-3214
No other changes
June 5
East Outlet -1213
Brassua Dam -1653
McKay Station/Rip Dam -2373
No other changes
June 4
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 2052
No other changes
June 3
East Outlet -1569
Brassua -1718
McKay Station/Rip Dam -2469
Canada Falls-211
Seboomook Dam -433
Roach River -125
June2
No changes
June 1
East Outlet 1775
Brassua 1918
McKay Station/Rip Dam 4447
No other changes
May 31
McKay Station/Rip Dam 3121
East Outlet -1779
Brassua -1850
No other changes
May 30
McKay Station/Rip Dam 3116
No other changes
May 29
East Outlet-2379
Brassua-2082
Rip Dam/McKay Station-2982
Canada Falls-210
Seboomook-435
Roach River-125
May 28
East Outlet - 2300
Brassua Dam - 2082
Rip Dam/McKay Station - 3150
Seboomook Dam - 444
Canada Falls Dam - 239
Roach River - 125
May 27
No Changes
May 26
No Changes
May 25
No changes
May 24
No changes
May 23
East Outlet- 1980
Brassua- 2082
Rip Dam- 3172
Seboomook- 435
Canada Falls- 159
Roach River-125
May 22
East Outlet - 2000
Brassua dam - 2080
Rip Dam/McKay Station - 3166
Seboomook Dam - 435
Canada Falls Dam - 158
Roach River - 125
The East Outlet is finally down to very fishable levels. Perfect Timing.
May 21
No real changes except at Rip Dam which has been lowered from 3500 to 3181 cfs. Maybe it is starting to drop to more fishable levels. Keep your fingers crossed.
May 20
No changes
May 19
No changes
May 18
No changes
May 17
East Outlet-2778
Brassua Dam-1918
McKay Station-3500
Seboomook-435
Roach-125
May 16
East Outlet -2780
Brassua Dam -1900
Mckay Station/Rip Dam -3500
Seboomook Dam -434
Canada Falls Dam -156
Roach River -125
May 15
East Outlet - 3178
Brassua Dam - 1900
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 3500
Seboomook Dam - 434
Canada Falls Dam - 156
Roach River - 125
It appears that the run-off has ended in the Upper West Branch Drainage with both Seboomook and Canada Falls Dams at summer flows. My guess is that if we don't have any measurable rain in the near future those flows should not change very much.
The East Outlet is slowly creeping down. Let's keep our fingers crossed it will be at fishable levels by the weekend.
May 14
East Outlet - 4085
Brassua Dam - 3220
MaKay Station/Rip Dam - 7203
Seboomook Dam- 2121
Roach River - 125
May 13
East Outlet -6400
West Outlet-150
Brassua Dam -2585
Mckay Station/Rip Dam -7198
Seboomook Dam -2121
Roach River-125
May 12
East Outlet - 6637
West Outlet - 150 (it will remain at this level for the summer)
Brassua Dam - 2533
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 7198
Seboomook Dam - 2121
Roach River - 125
The Roach River is at prime fishing levels. The high water earlier should have brought in a run of salmon.
The East Outlet will see daily decreases in flows. Hopefully it will be fishable by the weekend.
May 11
East Outlet - 8949
No changes for the other dams.
May 10
East Outlet-8100
Brassua Dam-3028
McKay Station-5989
Canada Falls-605
Seboomook Dam-2227
Roach River-125
According to the dam keeper at the East Outlet this morning water releases are slowly moving down, and hopefully the East Outlet will soon be at more fishable levels.
May 9
East Outlet-9650
Brassua Dam-3000
McKay Station-8582
Seboomook Dam-2183
Roach River-125
Caucomogomoc-2601
Canada Falls-596
May 8
East Outlet-9600
Brassua Dam-3336
McKay Station/Rip Dam
Seboomook Dam-2981
Roach River-300
Caucomogomoc Dam-2601
Canada Falls-1405
The Roach River is know at very fishable level, and the high water should have pulled a run of salmon in to the river. Good luck!!
May 7
East Outlet-9600
Brassua Dam-4600
Mckay Station/Rip Dam-11,206
Seboomook Dam-2929
Roach River-750
May 6
East Outlet-9600
Brassua Dam-5646
Mckay Station/Rip Dam-15,130
Seboomook Dam-2853
Roach River-750
May 5
East Outlet- 8300
Brassua Dam - 5646
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 16,650
Seboomook Dam - 2707
Roach River - 750
May 4
East Outlet - 7,300
Brassua Dam - 6170
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 16,650
Seboomook Dam - 3661
Roach River - 550
May 3
East Outlet - 4020
Brassua Dam - 7340
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 16,654
Seboomook Dam - 5805
Roach River - 550
I know it's high water now but these are just the kind of flows we need to fill the Moose and E.O. with fish. When the water goes down life on the rivers is going to be good.
Ice will probably be gone on Moosehead today. The small ponds are going out steadily.
May 2
East Outlet - 4306
Brassua Dam - 7500
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 16,662
Seboomook Dam - 5833
Canada Falls Dam - 2991
Roach River - 2000
May 1
East Outlet - 2500 at noon today
Brassua Dam - 9140
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 11,992
Seboomook Dam - 11,187
Canada Falls Dam - 6584
And the water keeps on coming. Moosehead Lake still has room for more run-off , but it's filling fast. Moosehead came up 6" yesterday. The East Outlet will start to flow today going to 2500cfs by noon. This should start the spring run of fish into the river. It will probably go up more in coming days.
Rip Dam now has flood gates open. McKay station which is the power house at Ripogenus Dam is at maximum flow at 3500 cfs. When you see flows above 3500 flood gates have been opened.
At its present flow of almost 12,000 cfs the river is about to flood Horserace campsite. This is not unusual this time of season.
There is a benefit to extreme high water on the West Branch. The landlocked salmon of the Penobscot is a very unique fishery that depends on high water to survive. It's part of the feeding cycle that supports the salmon population in that river. When flood gates are opened BIG numbers of smelt are dumped into the river. Without smelt you have no healthy salmon population. The extreme high water and open flood gates provides the fuel to feed a large population of fish. Insects aren't enough to grow big landlocked salmon. It's this annual event that adds the extra amount of food that is not supplied by the power house flows alone. Everyday high flows remain smelt will continue to be dumped into the river.
 Water Flows
April Water Flows
For up to date flow info call
Kennebec River 1-800-557-3569
Penobscot River 1-888-323-4341
* Always be aware that water flow may change at any time.
4/30
No real changes yet today. With all the rain and water coming from everywhere they'll let the lakes fill more before any more water is run.
- The Roach River is now flowing at 900 cfs which is in the woods. This should spark a run of salmon so when the water comes down to fishable levels (350 cfs and lower) there should be a nice batch of bright salmon in the river till it goes to summer flows which will be a while.
4/29
No real changes. We'll see what this rain does to things. The big lakes still have plenty of storage left but should fill faster with all this rain.
4/28
East Outlet - 511
Brassua Dam - 8565
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 3500
Seboomook Dam - 8041
Canada Falls Dam - 2994
With this amount of water coming out of Brassua Dam Moosehead should fill in good season. I'm looking for water to start flowing on the E.O. and bring in a run of fish. It's not going to happen tomorrow but it is going to happen.
All this flow information means nothing if you don't know what water levels are good for fishing and wading or are just too high and a waist of your precious fishing time.
On the East Outlet if the water flow is:
550 cfs (which is minimum flow by law) - You can wade almost anywhere and cross the river in many places. Almost too low. A real good time to learn the dimensions of the pools and runs.
1000 to 1500 cfs - Considered by most to be the best wading conditions. All the pools are easily accessible.
1500 to 2000 cfs - Still excellent wading but some water starts to become less unaccessible.
2000 to 2500 cfs - Approaching the upper end for easy wading. Still good fishing levels but far less accessible.
2500 to 3000 cfs - Limited wading to a few pools. Fish spread out but new (secret) runs start to hold fish.
3000 + cfs - Marginal at best.
4000 + cfs - Downright dangerous.
4/27
East Outlet - 511
Brassua Dam - 5060
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 3500
Seboomook Dam - 8160
Canada falls Dam - 2973
4/26
East Outlet - 511
Brassua Dam - 5,000 as of 8:00 pm
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 3500
Seboomook Dam - 11,169
Canada Falls Dam - 6322
The Moose River is really starting to pound water.
The Upper West Branch doesn't look like it has peaked yet. Looks like I was wrong believing it had peaked.
4/25
There are no real changes in water flow at any of the dams. My guess is the run-off may have peaked the last couple of days.
4/24
East Outlet - 511
Brassua Dam - 2512
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 3377
Seboomook Dam - 10,913
Canada Falls Dam - 6258
Looks like the remaining snow pack is coming undone in the Upper West Branch. Actually very typical this time of year.
4/23
East Outlet - 511
Brassua Dam - 2134
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 2257
Seboomook Dam - 6894
Canada Falls Dam - 4483
4/22
East Outlet - 511
Brassua Dam - 1737
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 3342
Seboomook Dam - 7408
Canada Falls Dam - 4539
The Upper West Branch has really cut loose!!
4/21
East Outlet - 511
Brassua Dam - 1780
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 2758
Seboomook Dam - 6252 !!!
As you can see the deep snow pack in the Upper West Branch Drainage has cut loose in the last couple of days. This extreme flow will probably continue all week as the snow pack melts.
4/19
East Outlet - 522
Brassua Dam - 1468
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 2336
Seboomook Dam - 2692
Date 4/18
East Outlet - 511
Brassua Dam - 1460
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 2203
Seboomook Dam - 2076
No real changes except you'll notice water levels increasing at Seboomook Dam. This is a result of increased run-off from the North & South Branches of the Penobscot. It all part of the filling process for Chesuncook Lake which gets most of its water from the Upper West Branch of the Penobscot but also Caucomogomoc Lake, Ragged Lake, Pine Stream and a number of smaller streams all contributing run-off into Chesuncook Lake.
Date 4/16
East Outlet - 511
Brassua Dam - 1468
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 2204
Seboomook Dam - 1570
Brassua Dam flows have been doubled. Brassua Lake will fill fast as run-off increases. The Moose River Drainage area is huge (the majority of Moosehead's water comes down the Moose River) and as run-off increases I suspect the flow at Brassua Dam will continue to increase steadily to avoid Brassua filling too fast.
Date 4/15
No changes
Date 4/14
East Outlet - 511
Brassua Dam - 632
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 2254
Seboomook Dam - 1090
It appears that we are in for a week of beautiful weather and sunshine. The snow has dropped quite a lot but there is still plenty to go. If the weather shapes-up the way they are predicting my guess is the danger of real flooding will diminish greatly because a lot of the water in the snow pack will be sucked-up by the sun. Time will tell.
Date 4/11
East Outlet - 500
Brassua Dam - 580
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 3420
Seboomook Dam - 880
The East Outlet is currently at 500 cfs which is minimum flow. If you have never been on the E.O. at 500 cfs you need to see it. There is no better time to learn a river than at low water. The pools are all well defined. Deep runs can be found. The fish are all pooled up and not spread all over. If you really want to learn the E.O. now is the time. My guess is low flows should continue for some time.
Date 4/10
East Outlet - 1214
Brassua Dam - 572
McKay Station/Rip Dam - 1746
Seboomook Dam - 846
The run-off has started and gates have been closed to capture what is left of the snow pack. Calculations have been made so in an average precipitation (rain) year the remaining snow pack coupled with anticipated rainfall should allow all the lakes will fill to the brim. That should take a while unless we get lots of rain all at once.
It's time to go fishing!!!
Date 4/8
East Outlet - 2810
Brassua Dam - 554
McKay Station - 2855
Seboomook Dam - 798
Flows are starting to come down as they begin to capture some of the run-off. With the warmer weather and bright sunshine a lot of snow pack moisture is going into the air lessening the chance of extreme high water each day. I believe we'll be seeing even less flows in the near future as they begin to hold back water and start filling Moosehead Lake.
Date 4/6
East Outlet - 3300
Brassua Dam - 531
McKay Station - 3500
Seboomook Dam - 834
Date 4/4
East Outlet - 3810
Brassua Dam - 531
McKay Station - 3500
Seboomook Dam - 886
Water Flows
4/2/08 Still high water but not for long
A chat with the dam keeper (Mike Moon) at the East Outlet this morning concluded with more high water news. They are still trying to pull Moosehead down a bit lower. It appears there is close to a foot of water in the snow pack throughout the drainage. A couple inches of rain and warm temperatures at the wrong time could produce a foot of water. They want plenty of room in Moosehead and Brassua Lakes just in case.
Once the serious run-off begins the gates on the East Outlet will be shut allowing wadeable levels of probably under 1000cfs. I'll let you know.
The Kennebec water flow information line is now back up and running. Dial 1-800-557-3569. Hit the letter K on your phone then the #4 for Brassua Dam and the #6 for the East Outlet. Remember this is estimated flows that can change without notice. I find it to be quite accurate 99% of the time. We'll be posting actual flows here for a number of dams in the near future.
It won't be long. If you do give it a try in the near future bring your snow shoes, there is still lots of snow on the ground and I don't expect it to be gone anytime soon.
Water Flows
3/9/08 I have good news and I have bad news
The bad news is Moosehead Lake has to be drawn down to make room for spring run-off. Because the lake has remained higher than usual it has been cranked up to 5000 cfs and will remain there for awhile in order to get the lake to its annual draw down level in time for this winter's water supply.
The good news is whenever the river sees these kinds of flows fish that always hang around the dam on the lake side are getting dumped into the river. Also the river has been at high levels since fall so some of the spawning fish remained in the river all winter.
Almost every spring when the initial run-off cuts loose from everywhere flood control management kicks-in. Moosehead will be down and able to hold a lot of incoming water. When run-off coming from everywhere down stream causes flood level conditions the flow on the East Outlet will be cut way back to avoid additional flood waters. Moosehead holds a lot of water and it takes time to fill. There could be a window of opportunity open when the East Outlet has very wadeable levels and lots more early fish around than usual. I talked to the dam keeper who vowed to let me know if and when a shutdown happens. It certainly can't be predicted but most likely would happen if the snow pack lets go all at once.
Check this report if you find flood conditions happening on the lower Kennebec. I'll let you know if a shut down happens. We may get a little window of wadable conditions.
Water Flows
1-16-08 Water Flow on the East Outlet will be high most of the winter.
Now that the East Outlet of the Kennebec is open year round we thought we should keep everyone informed of current water flows. There are certainly some nice enought days through the winter months for us hardcores to wet a line.
The present flow on the East Outlet is at 3200 cfs. Predictions are it will be between 3000 and 4000 cfs all winter. Moosehead Lake filled from the fall rains and must be drained considerably before spring run-off begins in April. At these levels winter wading is not really an option. A swim in heavy, extremely cold water isn't good for your health.
I'll update flows if they happen to go down to fishable levels.
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