It impounds the Kennebec River at the southern end of the natural Indian Pond, about 12 miles (19 km) downstream from Moosehead Lake.

[5] The concrete gravity structure is 175 feet (53 m) high and was named for Ford Harris, the chief engineer of original builders Central Maine Power.

[6] The dam creates about 86 megawatts of hydroelectric power.

[7] The Kennebec River valley is flooded upstream of the dam northeasterly through Indian Stream township into Sapling township.

East side tributaries are Burnham Brook draining Burnham Pond, and Indian Stream draining Little Indian Bog, Big Indian Pond, Trout Pond, and Moore Bog.