Kurt Sherman Dam (Upper Pond) dam
Kurt Sherman Dam (Upper Pond)
Kurt Sherman Dam (Upper Pond) is a privately owned structure located in Dry Run, Maryland, with a primary purpose of recreation. Originally completed in 1957 by Heisey Orchards, the dam stands at a height of 28 feet and has a storage capacity of 58.5 acre-feet. The dam serves for both irrigation and recreational purposes, with a surface area of 4 acres and a drainage area of 0.03 square miles.
Despite its recreational value, Kurt Sherman Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 3 feet. The last inspection was conducted in December 2017, indicating a need for regular maintenance and risk management measures to ensure public safety.
Climate and water resource enthusiasts interested in Kurt Sherman Dam (Upper Pond) should be aware of its location in Washington County, Maryland, and the potential risks associated with its high hazard potential. With a moderate risk assessment score of 3, this dam requires attention to prevent any potential emergencies or failures. Regular inspections and maintenance are crucial to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and the sustainability of the water resource for future generations.
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 Kurt Sherman Dam (Upper Pond) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Conococheague Creek At Fairview | 214 cfs | → |
| Potomac River At Hancock | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Antietam Creek Near Waynesboro | 49 cfs | → |
| Marsh Run At Grimes | 7 cfs | → |
| Back Creek Near Jones Springs | 26 cfs | → |
| Tonoloway Creek Near Needmore | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kurt Sherman Dam (Upper Pond).
Boat launches
- Blairs Valley Lake
- Starliper Road Washington County
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Washington County
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Hancock
- Meadow Grounds Lake - Under Drawdown
Campgrounds
- Jordan Junction Campsite
- Jordan Junction Hiker Biker Campsite
- North Mountain Campsite
- North Mountain Hiker Biker Campsite
- Mccoys Ferry Campground
- Mccoys Ferry - C And O Canal National Park
Fishing spots
- Blairs Valley Lake
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal
- Potomac River Reservoir
- Sideling Hill Creek Put And Take Area
- Melagos Fising Spot
- Hunting Creek Lake
Track Kurt Sherman Dam (Upper Pond) 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 Kurt Sherman Dam (Upper Pond)
Where does the data for Kurt Sherman Dam (Upper Pond) 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 Kurt Sherman Dam (Upper Pond).