Burnt Mills Dam dam
Burnt Mills Dam
Burnt Mills Dam, located in Montgomery, Maryland, along the Northwest Branch of the river, was completed in 1930 by WSSC & Ambursen Engineering Co. The dam stands at a height of 23 feet and stretches 230 feet in length, with a primary purpose of recreation and also serving flood risk reduction. The dam has a storage capacity of 97 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 6.6 acres, making it a significant structure for water resource management in the area.
Despite its fair condition assessment as of June 2018, Burnt Mills Dam has a significant hazard potential, necessitating a regular inspection frequency of 3 times a year. The dam is regulated by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, ensuring that it meets safety standards and is regularly inspected for any signs of deterioration. The dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width of 148 feet and can discharge a maximum of 12,285 cubic feet per second, highlighting its critical role in managing water flow during flood events.
With its historical significance and importance for both recreation and flood risk reduction, Burnt Mills Dam stands as a vital water resource infrastructure in Maryland. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find interest in the dam's design, purpose, and ongoing maintenance efforts to ensure its continued safety and functionality for the surrounding community.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Burnt Mills Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nw Branch Anacostia River Near Colesville | 4 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek At Sherrill Drive Washington | 38 cfs | → |
| Nw Branch Anacostia River Near Hyattsville | 10 cfs | → |
| North East Branch Anacostia River At Riverdale | 18 cfs | → |
| Potomac River Near Wash | 2,550 cfs | → |
| Patuxent Riv Near Laurel | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Burnt Mills Dam.
Boat launches
- Supplee Launch
- Anacostia Park Boat Ramp
- Gravelly Point Boat Ramp
- Potomac Hills Street Fairfax County
- Wayne F Anderson Bikeway Alexandria
- Lightspun Lane 5665, Long Reach
Campgrounds
Track Burnt Mills Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Burnt Mills Dam
Where does the data for Burnt Mills Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Burnt Mills Dam.