Wheaton Branch Storm Water Management dam
Wheaton Branch Storm Water Management
The Wheaton Branch Storm Water Management project in Silver Spring, Maryland, is a critical infrastructure designed for flood risk reduction along the Sligo Creek-TR river. Constructed in 1979 by Matz, Childs & Assoc. Inc, this earth dam stands at 27 feet tall and spans 1174 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 196 acre-feet. Despite its importance in mitigating flooding in the area, the dam is currently assessed as being in poor condition, with a high hazard potential.
The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 520 feet, and the outlet gates consist of a slide (sluice gate) system with no locks. While the structure has undergone modifications in 1990 for hydraulic reasons, its overall risk assessment is deemed moderate. With the last inspection conducted in December 2021 and regular inspections scheduled every year, there is a need for continued monitoring and potential maintenance to ensure the Wheaton Branch Storm Water Management remains effective in its flood risk reduction purpose for the surrounding Montgomery County community.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the intricacies of the Wheaton Branch Storm Water Management project provides insight into the challenges and importance of managing stormwater in urban areas. As climate change intensifies, the resilience of such infrastructure will be crucial in protecting communities from the increasing threats of flooding. Efforts to address the poor condition assessment and high hazard potential of the dam will be vital in safeguarding the local environment and population from potential disasters.
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 Wheaton Branch Storm Water Management -- 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 | → |
| Potomac River Near Wash | 2,550 cfs | → |
| North East Branch Anacostia River At Riverdale | 18 cfs | → |
| Watts Branch At Washington | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wheaton Branch Storm Water Management.
Boat launches
- Anacostia Park Boat Ramp
- Supplee Launch
- Gravelly Point Boat Ramp
- Potomac Hills Street Fairfax County
- Wayne F Anderson Bikeway Alexandria
- Rileys Lock Road Darnestown
Campgrounds
Track Wheaton Branch Storm Water Management 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 Wheaton Branch Storm Water Management
Where does the data for Wheaton Branch Storm Water Management 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 High 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 Wheaton Branch Storm Water Management.