Wheaton Regional Park Dam dam
Wheaton Regional Park Dam
Wheaton Regional Park Dam, also known as Pine Lake, is a local government-owned structure located in Montgomery County, Maryland. Built in 1962, this earth dam stands at a height of 24 feet and stretches 733 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 79 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is for recreation, providing a serene environment for visitors to enjoy the surrounding nature.
Managed by the Maryland Dam Safety regulatory agency, Wheaton Regional Park Dam has a significant hazard potential and is classified as being in fair condition. Despite its age, the dam underwent structural modifications in 2008 to ensure its continued safety and stability. Regular inspections are conducted every three years, with the most recent assessment in February 2021, indicating a moderate risk level.
Situated along the Northwest Branch of the TR River, Wheaton Regional Park Dam plays a vital role in water resource management and flood control in the area. With its uncontrolled spillway and rock foundation, this dam serves as a crucial infrastructure for the community while also providing a recreational oasis for residents and visitors alike.
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 Regional Park 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 | → |
| Hawlings River Near Sandy Spring | 8 cfs | → |
| Potomac River Near Wash | 2,550 cfs | → |
| North East Branch Anacostia River At Riverdale | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wheaton Regional Park Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Supplee Launch
- Potomac Hills Street Fairfax County
- Anacostia Park Boat Ramp
- Gravelly Point Boat Ramp
- Wayne F Anderson Bikeway Alexandria
- Lightspun Lane 5665, Long Reach
⛺ Campgrounds
More campgrounds →Track Wheaton Regional Park 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 Wheaton Regional Park Dam
Where does the data for Wheaton Regional Park 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 Wheaton Regional Park Dam.