Emmitsburg Dam dam
Emmitsburg Dam
Emmitsburg Dam, located in Frederick, Maryland, serves as a vital water supply source for the local community. Built in 1950 by the Emmitsburg Water Co., this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a length of 487 feet. With a storage capacity of 222 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 110 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Situated on Turkey Creek, the dam has a surface area of 13.5 acres and a drainage area of 0.8 square miles. Its uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 70 feet, helps regulate the water flow during periods of heavy rainfall. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, Emmitsburg Dam is in satisfactory condition and undergoes regular inspections by the Maryland Dam Safety regulatory agency.
With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam's emergency action plan ensures preparedness for any potential incidents. While the dam has not been modified since 1984, both structurally and hydraulically, it continues to fulfill its primary purpose of providing a reliable water supply. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the importance of maintaining and safeguarding dams like Emmitsburg Dam is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of our water infrastructure.
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 Emmitsburg Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Monocacy River At Bridgeport | 33 cfs | → |
| Big Pipe Creek At Bruceville | 28 cfs | → |
| Antietam Creek Near Waynesboro | 48 cfs | → |
| Monocacy River At Monocacy Blvd At Frederick | 180 cfs | → |
| Monocacy River At Jug Bridge Near Frederick | 218 cfs | → |
| Catoctin Creek Near Middletown | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Emmitsburg Dam.
Boat launches
- Catoctin Hollow Road 13916, Frederick County
- Big Red Trail Mount Lena
- Long Pine
- Frederick
- Long Arm Dam, Lawrence B. Sheppard Reservoir
- Taylors Landing
Campgrounds
- Adirondack Shelters Camping Area
- Poplar Grove I Group Camping Area
- Poplar Grove Ii Group Camping Area
- Owens Creek Campground
- Camp Greentop
- Owens Creek - Catoctin Mountain National Park
Fishing spots
- Little Owens Creek
- Hunting Creek Lake
- Culler Lake
- Melagos Fising Spot
- Potomac River Reservoir
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal
Paddle runs
Track Emmitsburg 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 Emmitsburg Dam
Where does the data for Emmitsburg 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 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 Emmitsburg Dam.