Deep Creek Dam dam
Deep Creek Dam
Deep Creek Dam, located in Friendsville, Maryland, is a private dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1925 by Charles B. Hawley & Co., this earth dam stands at a height of 85 feet and spans a length of 1300 feet, providing a storage capacity of 145,000 acre-feet on Deep Creek. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 712 feet, and it has a hazard potential rating of high.
Despite being privately owned, Deep Creek Dam is regulated by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes in place. The dam's condition is assessed as fair, with a moderate risk level of 3. It has a maximum discharge capacity of 111,458 cubic feet per second, serving as a recreational hub for the area with a surface area of 4500 acres and a normal storage capacity of 93,000 acre-feet. The dam also caters to hydroelectric purposes, showcasing its multi-functional design and importance in the region's water resource management and climate resilience efforts.
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 Deep Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Youghiogheny River Near Oakland | 83 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River At Friendsville | 207 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Friendsville | 25 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek Near Swanton | 154 cfs | → |
| Cheat River At Albright | 974 cfs | → |
| North Branch Potomac River At Kitzmiller | 156 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Deep Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Blue Trail Garrett County
- Mill Run Road Garrett County
- Mount Zion Road Garrett County
- Jockey Hollow
- Somerfield North Boat Ramp
- Tubs Run
Campgrounds
- Swallow Falls State Park
- Deep Creek Lake State Park
- Lost Land Run - Potomac State Forest
- Wallman/Laurel Run - Potomac State Forest
- Big Run State Park
- Mill Run - Youghiogheny River Lake
Fishing spots
- Deep Creek Lake
- Broadford Lake
- Little Youghiogheny River Reservoir
- Snowy Creek
- Savage River Reservoir
- Bruceton Mills Public Fishing Area
Paddle runs
- Begins As River Passes Under The Herrington Manor Road Bridge At Oakland, Maryland To The Corporate Boundary Of Friendsville, Maryland
- Begins Below The Youghiogheny River Lake Dam In Confluence, Pennsylvania To Ends In South Connellsville, Pennsylvania
- State Park Bridge To North Fork
- North Fork To Hickory Lick Run
- Otter Creek To Blackwater
- Perennial Stream At Forks To Dolly Sods Wilderness Boundary
Track Deep 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 Deep Creek Dam
Where does the data for Deep 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 Deep Creek Dam.