Dead River (Maine)
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The Dead River, also sometimes called the West Branch, is a river in central Maine in the United States. Its source is Flagstaff Lake, where its two main tributaries, South Branch Dead River and North Branch Dead River, join. It flows generally east to join the Kennebec River at the West Forks in The Forks, Maine.
It is a popular river with whitewater boaters and rafters. The whitewater releases are controlled from Flagstaff Lake, which has been dammed and made into a reservoir, and range from 1200 to 5000 ft³/s (34 to 140 m³/s) and range in difficulty from easy class 3 to class 4+. The length of the run is 15 miles (24 km) from the put-in at Spencer Stream to the take-out at West Forks with no easy access by road. Boaters must be prepared for at least 5 hours of paddling of varying difficulty. See the American Whitewater website for a detailed description.
The Dead River played a role in the American Revolution; it was on the route for the invasion of Canada in the fall of 1775 by a then newly-commissioned Colonel Benedict Arnold.
The logging industry is prominent in the area. Flagstaff Lake was formed by Long Falls Dam, completed in 1956, to regulate the flow of the Dead River into the Kennebec River. At the time, the river drive was still a primary means of delivering timber to the pulp mills downstream. Although improved highways and the trucking industry have replaced the river drive, water releases continue to serve hydroelectric power-generating plants downstream.
The majestic Bigelow Mountain Range looks down from the lake's southern shore, making the Dead River region a scenic favorite for outdoor enthusiasts.
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