Liberty Dam dam
Liberty Dam
Liberty Dam, located in Daniels City, Maryland, is a gravity dam constructed in 1953 by renowned designer Abel Wolman. With a height of 175 feet and a length of 704 feet, the dam serves as a vital water supply source for the region, holding a maximum storage capacity of 177,000 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is water supply, while also providing opportunities for recreational activities in the surrounding area.
Despite its importance, Liberty Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its condition being assessed as unsatisfactory. This classification has prompted regular inspections by Maryland Dam Safety to ensure public safety. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 480 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 100,148 cubic feet per second. With a drainage area of 164 square miles and a surface area of 3,106 acres, Liberty Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the North Branch of the Patapsco River.
While Liberty Dam continues to face moderate risks, its strategic location and design make it a key asset for water resource management in Baltimore County, Maryland. As climate change impacts water availability and quality, the dam's role in providing a reliable water supply becomes increasingly significant. Efforts to address the dam's unsatisfactory condition and implement risk management measures will be crucial in ensuring the safety and sustainability of this essential water infrastructure for years to come.
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 Liberty Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Morgan Run Near Louisville | 24 cfs | → |
| Patapsco River At Hollofield | 115 cfs | → |
| Gwynns Falls Near Delight | 3 cfs | → |
| Gwynns Falls At Glyndon | 0 cfs | → |
| Beaver Run Near Finksburg | 13 cfs | → |
| Gwynns Falls At Villa Nova | 112 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Liberty Dam.
Boat launches
- Liberty Road Carroll County
- Lakeview Avenue Carroll County
- Piney Run Park
- 99 Drop Howard County
- Lightspun Lane 5665, Long Reach
- Joseph Avenue Baltimore
Campgrounds
- Little Bennett Campground
- Little Bennett Regional Park
- Greenbelt Park
- Camp Loop A
- Camp Loop D
- Camp Loop C
Fishing spots
Track Liberty 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 Liberty Dam
Where does the data for Liberty 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 Liberty Dam.