District-Of-Columbia reservoirs & dams
Every documented dam and reservoir in District-Of-Columbia — with normal storage capacity, dam height, max discharge, hazard classification, and drainage area. Sourced from USACE NID and state water-resource agencies.
District-Of-Columbia dams & reservoirs
Every documented dam in District-Of-Columbia. Sortable by any column; quickly filterable by name. Numeric columns heat-mapped from light to deep based on value. Tap any dam for the full report.
About District-Of-Columbia dams & reservoirs
Where does the District-Of-Columbia dam data come from?
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Inventory of Dams (NID) plus state water-resource agencies. Snoflo joins these public records with live USGS streamgauge readings downstream where available. The NID is the canonical federal dam registry.
What does Hazard Potential mean?
USACE classifies every dam by what would happen if it failed: Low (no loss of life expected, minimal economic damage), Significant (no loss of life but economic, environmental, or lifeline damage), High (loss of life expected). It's a downstream-consequence rating, not a likelihood of failure.
What is Normal Storage in acre-feet?
The volume of water the reservoir holds at its normal operating level, measured in acre-feet. One acre-foot is about 325,851 gallons or 1,233 cubic meters — the amount needed to cover one acre to a depth of one foot.
Why are some District-Of-Columbia dams missing storage or height data?
USACE NID records can have gaps for small or older dams that pre-date federal reporting requirements. Snoflo surfaces whatever the canonical record contains. If a dam you care about has incomplete data, contact the operating agency or USACE for updates.
Can I see live water levels?
Yes — tap any dam name to open its detail page, which pulls live storage data from USGS streamgauges or operating-agency feeds where available. Historical levels and seasonal averages are also shown.
Why does District-Of-Columbia have so many dams?
The U.S. has over 90,000 dams — most built between 1930 and 1980 during the federal water-development era. District-Of-Columbia's count reflects a combination of agricultural irrigation needs, flood control, hydropower, and recreation. The "Built by decade" chart above shows the timeline.