Hunting Creek Dam dam
Hunting Creek Dam
Hunting Creek Dam, also known as Cunningham Falls State Park Dam, is a significant earth dam located in Thurmont, Maryland. Constructed in 1969 by Buchart Horn, this dam serves a primary purpose of recreation, drawing visitors to the picturesque Hunting Creek for outdoor activities. With a height of 79 feet and a length of 787 feet, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 1263 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 771 acre-feet.
Managed by the Maryland Dam Safety regulatory agency, Hunting Creek Dam has a spillway width of 150 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 33,400 cubic feet per second. While the dam is classified as having a high hazard potential, its current condition assessment is rated as fair. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last assessment taking place in January 2022, ensuring the safety and integrity of the structure. With its location in the beautiful Cunningham Falls State Park, this dam is not only a vital water resource but also a popular recreational destination for residents and visitors alike.
Despite its moderate risk assessment level, Hunting Creek Dam continues to provide essential flood control and water storage functions for the surrounding area. The dam's earth construction with a stone core and soil foundation adds to its structural stability. Emergency preparedness measures are in place, with a fair condition assessment indicating ongoing maintenance and monitoring efforts. As a key component of water resource management in Frederick County, Maryland, Hunting Creek Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable infrastructure development in the face of changing climate conditions and increasing water demands.
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 Hunting Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Antietam Creek Near Waynesboro | 53 cfs | → |
| Big Pipe Creek At Bruceville | 35 cfs | → |
| Monocacy River At Bridgeport | 44 cfs | → |
| Monocacy River At Monocacy Blvd At Frederick | 193 cfs | → |
| Catoctin Creek Near Middletown | 21 cfs | → |
| Monocacy River At Jug Bridge Near Frederick | 240 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hunting Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Catoctin Hollow Road 13916, Frederick County
- Big Red Trail Mount Lena
- Frederick
- Taylors Landing
- Snyders Landing Road 17045, Sharpsburg
- Long Pine
Campgrounds
- Houck Area - Cunningham Falls State Park
- Camp Greentop
- Camp Round Meadow
- Poplar Grove Ii Group Camping Area
- Poplar Grove I Group Camping Area
- Owens Creek - Catoctin Mountain National Park
Fishing spots
- Hunting Creek Lake
- Little Owens Creek
- Culler Lake
- Potomac River Reservoir
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal
- Melagos Fising Spot
Paddle runs
Track Hunting 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 Hunting Creek Dam
Where does the data for Hunting 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 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 Hunting Creek Dam.