Skelton Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skelton Dam |
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 Location of Skelton Dam in Maine
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| Country | United States |
| Location | Buxton / Dayton, Maine |
| Coordinates | 43°34′10″N 070°33′32″W / 43.56944°N 70.55889°W |
| Purpose | Power, flood control |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1948 |
| Owner(s) | Florida Power & Light |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Saco River |
| Height | 76 ft (23 m) |
| Length | 1,695 ft (517 m) |
| Spillway type | Gate-controlled |
| Spillway capacity | 69,600 cu ft/s (1,971 m3/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 33,500 acre⋅ft (41,321,642 m3) |
| Catchment area | 1,622 sq mi (4,201 km2) |
| Surface area | 488 acres (2 km2) |
| Power station | |
| Hydraulic head | 76 ft (23 m) |
| Installed capacity | 16.8 MW |
The Skelton Dam is a large wall built across the Saco River in Maine, USA. It sits between the towns of Buxton and Dayton. This dam is about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Saco and Biddeford.
The main job of the Skelton Dam is to make electricity. It uses the power of the river's flowing water. The dam was finished in 1948. It also helps control floods.
Making Electricity at Skelton Dam
The Skelton Dam is a type of dam called an embankment dam. This means it is made mostly of earth and rock. It holds back a lot of water from the Saco River.
This stored water is then used to spin big machines called turbines. These turbines are connected to generators. The generators then create electricity. This process is called hydroelectric power generation. The dam can produce 16.8 megawatts of power.
Helping Fish Travel
Rivers are important pathways for fish. Many fish, like salmon, need to swim upstream to lay their eggs. Dams can block their way.
To help fish, a special structure was built at Skelton Dam. It is called a fish lift. This lift helps fish get around the dam safely. It was finished in 2001. It is the largest fish lift in all of Maine.
Who Owns the Dam?
The Skelton Dam and all its equipment are owned by a company called Brookfield Renewable. They manage the dam to make sure it keeps producing clean energy.
