Lake Waterford Dam dam
Lake Waterford Dam
Lake Waterford Dam, located in Anne Arundel, Maryland, is a vital piece of infrastructure designed by Whitman, Requardt & Assoc. in 1925 for water supply purposes. Standing at 18 feet tall and spanning 507 feet in length, this earth dam on the Magothy River boasts a storage capacity of 166 acre-feet, with a normal storage of 66 acre-feet. The dam serves not only as a crucial water supply source but also offers recreational opportunities, covering a surface area of 12 acres and facilitating a maximum discharge of 2468 cubic feet per second through its uncontrolled spillway.
Despite being deemed in satisfactory condition as of the latest assessment in April 2021, Lake Waterford Dam poses a significant hazard potential, warranting a moderate risk assessment rating. The dam is subject to regular inspections by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, with the last inspection conducted in October 2020. In the event of an emergency, the dam's emergency action plan (EAP) is expected to be updated in accordance with guidelines, ensuring public safety and effective risk management measures are in place. With its strategic location and crucial role in water supply, Lake Waterford Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of engineering ingenuity, environmental stewardship, and climate resilience in safeguarding water resources for the community.
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 Lake Waterford Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sawmill Creek At Glen Burnie | 6 cfs | → |
| South Fork Jabez Branch At Millersville | 0 cfs | → |
| East Branch Herbert Run At Arbutus | 6 cfs | → |
| Gwynns Falls At Washington Blvd At Baltimore | 187 cfs | → |
| Patuxent River Near Bowie | 163 cfs | → |
| Little Patuxent River At Savage | 152 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Waterford Dam.
Boat launches
- Seaward Drive 504, Anne Arundel County
- John Downs Loop 8311, Anne Arundel County
- Tucker Street Boat Ramp
- Joseph Avenue Baltimore
- Lockwood Court 203, Annapolis
- Inverton Road 2057, Stanbrook
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Lake Waterford 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 Lake Waterford Dam
Where does the data for Lake Waterford 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 Significant 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 Lake Waterford Dam.