Frostburg Reservoir dam
Frostburg Reservoir
Frostburg Reservoir, also known as Big Piney Run, is a picturesque water supply reservoir located in Garrett County, Maryland. Owned by the local government, this earth dam structure was completed in 1990 by the design firm Whitman, Requardt & Assoc. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 3,276 acre-feet and serves as a vital source of water for the surrounding area.
With a dam height of 46 feet and a length of 1,275 feet, Frostburg Reservoir has a surface area of 110 acres and a drainage area of 11.9 square miles. The reservoir's spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 110 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 22,188 cubic feet per second. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the reservoir's condition is assessed as fair, with inspections conducted regularly to ensure its safety and functionality.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Frostburg Reservoir offers a fascinating example of engineering and management in maintaining a critical water supply infrastructure. Its strategic location, design features, and regulatory oversight make it a significant asset in ensuring water security for the region. As climate change impacts water resources, understanding and monitoring reservoirs like Frostburg become increasingly important for sustainable water management practices.
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 Frostburg Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Casselman River At Grantsville | 31 cfs | → |
| Savage River Near Barton | 16 cfs | → |
| Wills Creek Near Cumberland | 73 cfs | → |
| North Branch Potomac River Near Cumberland | 420 cfs | → |
| Georges Creek At Franklin | 19 cfs | → |
| Savage Riv Bl Savage Riv Dam Near Bloomington | 58 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Frostburg Reservoir.
Boat launches
- South Access`
- North Access
- Markleton
- Gordon Lake Boat Access
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Allegany County
- Koon Lake Boat Access
Campgrounds
- New Germany State Park Campground
- New Germany State Park
- Savage River State Forest Dispersed
- Big Run State Park
- Evitts Creek Campsite
- Irons Mountain Hiker Biker Campsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Youghiogheny River Lake Dam In Confluence, Pennsylvania To Ends In South Connellsville, Pennsylvania
- Begins As River Passes Under The Herrington Manor Road Bridge At Oakland, Maryland To The Corporate Boundary Of Friendsville, Maryland
- Begins South Of Largent To The Confluence With The Potomac At Great Cacapon
- Capon Bridge To Ends Just South Of Largent
- Begins Where The Lost River Becomes The Cacapon River To Wardensville
- The West Virginia 259 Bridge South Of Wardensville To Ends Where The Lost River Becomes The Cacapon River
Track Frostburg Reservoir 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 Frostburg Reservoir
Where does the data for Frostburg Reservoir 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 Frostburg Reservoir.