Lake Merle (Eaglehead Drive) dam
Lake Merle (Eaglehead Drive)
Lake Merle (Eaglehead Drive), also known as Meadowlake Dam, is a private water resource nestled in Frederick, Maryland. This picturesque dam, built in 1971 by Balter and later repaired by Greenhorne & O'Mara, stands at a height of 43.65 feet and boasts a storage capacity of 303 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of recreation, this earth dam with stone core provides a serene setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming.
Managed by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, Lake Merle is subject to regular inspections and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and safe operation. The dam, located on Linganore Creek-TR, has a spillway width of 100 feet and a maximum discharge of 1500 cubic feet per second. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam is currently in satisfactory condition, meeting regulatory guidelines and posing a moderate risk level of 3.
Visitors to Lake Merle can appreciate its 12-acre surface area, surrounded by picturesque landscapes and wildlife. With a drainage area of 0.6 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 141 acre-feet, this tranquil reservoir offers a peaceful retreat for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking a recreational escape in the heart of Maryland.
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 Merle (Eaglehead Drive) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Monocacy River At Jug Bridge Near Frederick | 192 cfs | → |
| Monocacy River At Monocacy Blvd At Frederick | 156 cfs | → |
| Bennett Creek At Park Mills | 17 cfs | → |
| Big Pipe Creek At Bruceville | 25 cfs | → |
| Catoctin Creek Near Middletown | 15 cfs | → |
| Potomac River At Point Of Rocks | 2,520 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Merle (Eaglehead Drive).
Boat launches
- Frederick
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Frederick County
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Frederick County
- Clarksburg Road Germantown
- Catoctin Hollow Road 13916, Frederick County
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Point Of Rocks
Campgrounds
- Gambrill State Park
- Little Bennett Campground
- Little Bennett Regional Park
- Turner Farm
- Manor Area - Cunningham Falls State Park
- Indiant Flats Campsite
Track Lake Merle (Eaglehead Drive) 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 Merle (Eaglehead Drive)
Where does the data for Lake Merle (Eaglehead Drive) 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 Merle (Eaglehead Drive).