Columbia Creek Dam dam
Columbia Creek Dam
Columbia Creek Dam, also known as Bruce Nichols Pond No. 7, is a gravity dam located in Wicomico, Maryland. Built in 1987 by the USDA NRCS, this private dam serves as a vital water supply source for the area. With a height of 13.5 feet and a length of 425 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 68 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 400 cubic feet per second.
The dam is regulated by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, ensuring that it meets all safety standards and undergoes regular inspections. Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam's condition has not been officially rated. The spillway of the dam is uncontrolled, with a width of 26 feet, and it serves as an essential feature for managing water levels during high flow events.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the engineering and design of Columbia Creek Dam, which plays a crucial role in providing water supply for the surrounding area. As a privately owned structure, it highlights the importance of proper dam management and regulatory oversight to ensure the safety and integrity of such critical infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Columbia Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaverdam Creek Near Salisbury | 17 cfs | → |
| Chicamacomico River Near Salem | 8 cfs | → |
| Manokin Branch Near Princess Anne | 1 cfs | → |
| Nassawango Creek Near Snow Hill | 4 cfs | → |
| Pocomoke River Near Willards | 13 cfs | → |
| Nanticoke River Near Bridgeville | 38 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Columbia Creek Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Race Street Vienna
- Leonards Mill Pond Drive 2899, Wicomico County
- New Bridge Road 4400, Dorchester County
- Tyaskin Wharf Road Wicomico County
- Dogwood Lane Sussex County
- Cedar Hill Marina
⛺ Campgrounds
- Camp Sandy Pines
- Trap Pond State Park
- Soroptimist Park
- Milburn Landing - Pocomoke State Park
- Shad Landing - Pocomoke State Park
- Janes Island State Park
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →Track Columbia Creek 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 Columbia Creek Dam
Where does the data for Columbia Creek 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 Low 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 Columbia Creek Dam.