Heavy rains and a larger than normal winter runoff caused the Presumpscot River to swell over its banks Thursday, causing some flooding, but no serious damage.

The flooding seemed to be exceptionally heavy around the area of Lincoln Street just beyond the Dana Warp Mill. At around 2 p.m. the river had overflowed and flooded out two houses alongside the river, just above the dam. Westbrook Fire Chief Gary Littlefield said that the residents of the homes had left before the waters got overly high.

As of 2 p.m., Littlefield said that the river was at 21.5 feet, and the Presumpscot’s flood stage is 15 feet. The height of the river was especially evident at Saccarappa Falls near the Dana Warp Mill. As the swollen river rushed over the falls, it also threatened to inundate the trees along the bank. In fact, a view from the Riverwalk showed that a great many trees alongside the bank close to the river were at least partially submerged in the high water.

EMS Director Ron Jones, who was touring the city with Littlefield checking on the river and the potential for flooding, said that the recent heavy rains were only partially to blame for the flooding. He said that the heavier than usual winter runoff combined with heavy storms at the beginning of April have raised the level of Sebago Lake to the point that it cannot handle any more water, forcing the excess water from this week’s storm into the river. “The runoff filled the lake earlier than normal,” Jones said.

The lake was scheduled to reach its target high level on May 1 in accordance with the lake’s water management plan, but heavy rains raised the water a few days early. Because of the additional rains this week, Sappi Fine Paper, which manages the lake levels, has opened all five of its dams on the Presumpscot River releasing 190,000 cubic feet of water per minute out of Sebago Lake. The Presumpscot is the only outlet of Sebago Lake.

Sappi owns five hydroelectric dams on the Presumpscot River. The company manages the water levels by releasing the water through these dams that create power for the mill. Generally, the company only lets enough water down the Presumpscot that can pass through the dam’s turbines. Since the turbines have a capacity of 50,000 cubic feet per minute, 140,000 cubic feet of water is currently flowing unused over the existing river bed into the Presumpscot.

Littlefield and Jones said that other than at Lincoln Street, there had not been any serious flooding in the city so far. Jones said that there was a possibility that East Bridge St. by Route 302 would need to be closed due to the rising water, but they weren’t sure if that measure was going to be necessary. “We’re keeping an eye on that,” Jones said. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”

Littlefield said that he expected the river to remain high until around 9 or 10 p.m. Thursday. At that point, he expected that water levels in the river would begin to go back down to normal levels. “That will give it a full tide cycle to empty out,” he said.

While there were no serious problems with the high water, Littlefield said that he wanted residents to stay away from the high and fast moving waters. “That river’s moving,” he said. “If someone slips into it, they’re gone. No one will ever be able to get to them.”

Staff Writer Douglas Wright contributed to this report

A home on Lincoln Street feels the brunt of the flooded Presumpscot River on Thursday afternoon.The Presumpscot River rushes past the Dana Warp Mill at Saccarappa Falls.High water from the Presumpscot River threatens a house on Lincoln Street Thursday afternoon.