Shores Of Calvert Lower Dam dam
Shores Of Calvert Lower Dam
Shores of Calvert Lower Dam, located in Calvert, Maryland, along the Patuxent River, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreation purposes such as fish and wildlife pond activities. The dam, with a height of 15 feet and a length of 186 feet, was completed in 1972 and has a storage capacity of 126 acre-feet. It has a surface area of 8.6 acres and a drainage area of 0.1 square miles, making it an important feature for water resource management in the area.
The dam, designed by Robert D Murphy and repaired by Mike Rodevick in 1995, is regulated by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, ensuring that it meets state inspection and enforcement requirements. With a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam poses a moderate risk level. Despite its uncontrolled spillway type, the structure has a maximum discharge capacity of 300 cubic feet per second, making it relatively safe for nearby communities. Overall, the Shores of Calvert Lower Dam plays a crucial role in maintaining water resources and supporting recreational activities in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Shores of Calvert Lower Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned dam in Maryland that serves multiple purposes, including fish and wildlife conservation and recreational activities. With its earth dam type and stone core, the structure has been in operation since 1972 and has undergone necessary repairs to ensure its safety and functionality. Managed by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, the dam is regularly inspected and enforced to meet state regulations, providing a secure water management system for the surrounding area. As a low-hazard potential structure with a moderate risk assessment, the Shores of Calvert Lower Dam stands as a vital component in the local water infrastructure and environmental conservation 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 Shores Of Calvert Lower Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Western Branch At Upper Marlboro | 12 cfs | → |
| Patuxent River Near Bowie | 107 cfs | → |
| Piscataway Creek At Piscataway | 3 cfs | → |
| Watts Branch At Washington | 1 cfs | → |
| North East Branch Anacostia River At Riverdale | 17 cfs | → |
| Nw Branch Anacostia River Near Hyattsville | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shores Of Calvert Lower Dam.
Boat launches
- Critical Area Driving Tour Prince George's County
- Marlboro Road 1570, Anne Arundel County
- Magruders Ferry Road 17901, Brandywine
- Holly Road 302, Selby-On-The-Bay
- Bowie
- Branch Street Calvert County
Campgrounds
- Selby's Landing
- Cedarville State Forest
- Andrews Afb Military
- Louise F. Cosca Regional Park
- Camp Loop B
- Camp Loop A
Fishing spots
Track Shores Of Calvert Lower 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 Shores Of Calvert Lower Dam
Where does the data for Shores Of Calvert Lower 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 Low 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 Shores Of Calvert Lower Dam.