Lake Linganore dam
Lake Linganore
Lake Linganore, also known as Brosius Dam, is a private recreational water source located in Pinecliff, Maryland. Built in 1972 by the Robert B. Balter Co., this earth dam stands at a height of 63 feet and spans 750 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 7,900 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 220 acres. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, with secondary functions including water supply for the area.
Despite its scenic beauty and recreational value, Lake Linganore poses a high hazard potential due to its unsatisfactory condition assessment. The dam is classified as having a moderate risk level, with the last inspection conducted in July 2021 and a structural modification carried out in 2005. The spillway, with a width of 120 feet, is uncontrolled, and the dam is regulated by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, ensuring state permitting, inspection, and enforcement protocols are in place to manage its operations and safety.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake Linganore presents an intriguing case of balancing recreational benefits with the challenges of maintaining dam safety and risk management. With Linganore Creek serving as its source and a drainage area of 82.3 square miles, this picturesque reservoir in Frederick County, Maryland, serves as a vital water supply and recreational hub, albeit with ongoing concerns about its structural integrity and hazard potential. As efforts continue to ensure its safety and compliance with regulatory standards, Lake Linganore remains a focal point for water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
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 Linganore -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Monocacy River At Jug Bridge Near Frederick | 202 cfs | → |
| Monocacy River At Monocacy Blvd At Frederick | 165 cfs | → |
| Bennett Creek At Park Mills | 17 cfs | → |
| Catoctin Creek Near Middletown | 15 cfs | → |
| Big Pipe Creek At Bruceville | 27 cfs | → |
| Potomac River At Point Of Rocks | 2,560 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Linganore.
Boat launches
- Frederick
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Frederick County
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Frederick County
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Point Of Rocks
- Clarksburg Road Germantown
- Catoctin Hollow Road 13916, Frederick County
Campgrounds
- Gambrill State Park
- Little Bennett Campground
- Little Bennett Regional Park
- Turner Farm
- Manor Area - Cunningham Falls State Park
- Indiant Flats Campsite
Track Lake Linganore 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 Linganore
Where does the data for Lake Linganore 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 Lake Linganore.