Rivers in Maine
Sandy River (ME) at Mercer
Below flood stage
2.88ftStage
Observed Wed, Sep 30, 1:00 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 10.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 3.50 ftWed, Sep 30, 2:00 AM EDT
- Record crest
- 19.25 ft1987
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 16.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 14.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 10.00 ft |
| Action | 8.00 ft |
- 19.00 ftApproaching levels seen during the historical 1987 flood. Significant property damage between Farmington and New Sharon. Hundreds of acres of farmland flooded in Mercer and Starks.
- 18.00 ftRoute 2 bridge in New Sharon flooded. Starks Road to Glen Harris Road flooded in New Sharon.
- 17.00 ftLevel comparable with December 2023. Dozens of properties between Farmington and New Sharon flooded. Access in and out of the region limited due to flooded bridges. Floodwaters several feet deep in Farmington along Main Street and Front Street.
- 16.00 ftMajor flooding occurs. Flooding impacts homes and businesses from Farmington Falls to Norridgewock. Main Street in Farmington flooded up to to 4 feet depth.
- 15.00 ftStarks Road in New Sharon flooded. Water enters businesses on Main Street in Farmington.
- 14.00 ftModerate flooding occurs. Businesses inundated along Main Street in Farmington south of the University. Floodwaters encroach on homes along East Sandy River Road in Mercer.
- 13.00 ftFlood waters encroach on properties along Front Street and Main Street in Farmington. Extensive flooding of recreational fields occurs. The flood extent along East Sandy River Road in Mercer cuts off access to multiple homes.
- 12.00 ftFlooding of Prescott Field and Hippach Field in Farmington, and low land pasture flooding downstream.
- 10.00 ftMinor flooding occurs on George Thomas Road in New Sharon. Floodwaters can encroach on low lying portion of West and East Sandy River Road in Mercer due to culverts backing up under certain conditions. Locals are advised to find alternate routes.
- 8.00 ftThe river is at bankfull in low lying areas, some erosion may occur.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, October to December
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 13% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 28, 2026.
Crest history
31 crests on NOAA’s list since 1936.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 1, 1987 | 19.25 ft |
| 2 | December 19, 2023 | 17.35 ft |
| 3 | March 19, 1936 | 16.75 ft |
| 4 | March 28, 1953 | 16.34 ft |
| 5 | March 13, 1936 | 15.85 ft |
| 6 | December 28, 1969 | 14.65 ft |
| 7 | May 2, 2023 | 14.62 ft |
| 8 | May 2, 2023 | 14.62 ft |
| 9 | March 18, 1973 | 14.52 ft |
| 10 | February 6, 1946 | 14.47 ft |
| 11 | June 15, 1998 | 14.20 ft |
| 12 | March 28, 1945 | 14.20 ft |
| 13 | February 15, 1937 | 13.95 ft |
| 14 | April 4, 2005 | 13.73 ft |
| 15 | December 22, 1973 | 13.63 ft |
| 16 | January 10, 1978 | 13.50 ft |
| 17 | April 28, 1979 | 13.48 ft |
| 18 | May 13, 1989 | 13.33 ft |
| 19 | December 2, 1996 | 13.30 ft |
| 20 | December 18, 2003 | 13.03 ft |
| 21 | January 28, 1996 | 12.98 ft |
| 22 | April 4, 1951 | 12.68 ft |
| 23 | April 18, 1993 | 12.64 ft |
| 24 | April 3, 1959 | 12.60 ft |
| 25 | April 21, 1950 | 12.49 ft |
Most recent crests
- December 19, 2023: 17.35 ft
- May 2, 2023: 14.62 ft
- May 2, 2023: 14.62 ft
- December 14, 2010: 12.00 ft
- December 13, 2010: 12.00 ft
- April 4, 2005: 13.73 ft
- December 18, 2003: 13.03 ft
- June 15, 1998: 14.20 ft
- December 2, 1996: 13.30 ft
- January 28, 1996: 12.98 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Northeast River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. Flood stage changes coming December 11, 2024. Please visit <a href='https://www.weather.gov/media/gyx/PNS_2024FloodStageChanges.pdf' >HERE</a> for more information.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.