Cosca Regional Park Dam dam
Cosca Regional Park Dam
Cosca Regional Park Dam, also known as Cosca Lake, is a captivating water resource nestled within Clinton Regional Park in Prince George's County, Maryland. Completed in 1970, this earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and spans 515 feet, creating a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 356 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is for recreation, offering activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking in a picturesque setting.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, Cosca Regional Park Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its proximity to the Butler Branch river. Despite being classified as fair in condition assessment, the dam's moderate risk level (rated 3 out of 5) warrants regular inspections and maintenance to ensure public safety. With a spillway width of 130 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 17,600 cubic feet per second, the dam is equipped to handle excess water flow during heavy rainfall events.
Situated in the Baltimore District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Cosca Regional Park Dam serves as a vital water resource for fire protection, stock, and recreation in the surrounding area. Its strategic location in Piscataway, Maryland, makes it a popular destination for water and climate enthusiasts seeking to explore the intersection of nature conservation and outdoor leisure activities.
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 Cosca Regional Park Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Piscataway Creek At Piscataway | 3 cfs | → |
| Western Branch At Upper Marlboro | 12 cfs | → |
| Cameron Run At Alexandria | 610 cfs | → |
| Watts Branch At Washington | 8 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Run At Alexandria | 278 cfs | → |
| Mattawoman Creek Near Pomonkey | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cosca Regional Park Dam.
Boat launches
- Wharf Road Accokeek
- Ludgate Drive Mount Vernon
- Anacostia Park Boat Ramp
- Wayne F Anderson Bikeway Alexandria
- Marshall Hall Boat Ramp Charles County
- Gravelly Point Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Louise F. Cosca Regional Park
- Andrews Afb Military
- Cedarville State Forest
- Selby's Landing
- Fort Belvoir Travel And Rv Camp
- Pohick Bay Regional Park
Fishing spots
Track Cosca Regional Park 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 Cosca Regional Park Dam
Where does the data for Cosca Regional Park 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 Cosca Regional Park Dam.