[3] At the time, the river drive was still a primary means of delivering timber to the pulp mills downstream.

The dam is operated to regulate and augment flows that are used by eight downstream mainstem Kennebec River hydropower projects, and to control flooding.

[8] [citation needed] A mid-air collision occurred over the lake during a United States Air Force exercise on the evening of 3 November 1959.

One of the F-102s pressed a simulated firing run too close as the interception occurred over the lake, and the F-102 delta wing cut the tail off the T-33.

The T-33 crew ejected successfully, but the rear seat crewman died when he became tangled in his parachute and landed upside down near the front section of the T-33.