New Germany State Park Dam dam
New Germany State Park Dam
New Germany State Park Dam, also known as Swaugers Mill Dam, is a picturesque earth dam located in Garrett County, Maryland. Built in 1930 by the US WPA/CCC, this dam is primarily used for recreation purposes and stands at a height of 12 feet with a length of 164 feet. Situated on the Poplar Lick Run, the dam has a normal storage capacity of 52 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 380 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, the New Germany State Park Dam has undergone modifications in 2008 for both hydraulic and structural improvements. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is regularly inspected with a satisfactory condition assessment as of April 2021. With its serene surroundings and ample recreational opportunities, this dam serves as a vital water resource for the community while also ensuring public safety and enjoyment.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the New Germany State Park Dam presents a unique blend of history, engineering, and environmental stewardship. From its humble origins as a CCC project to its modern-day management by the Maryland authorities, this dam exemplifies the importance of sustainable water infrastructure in balancing the needs of recreation, conservation, and safety. Whether exploring the surrounding trails or observing the uncontrolled spillway in action, visitors to this dam can appreciate the beauty and resilience of our natural water systems in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 New Germany State Park Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Savage River Near Barton | 16 cfs | → |
| Casselman River At Grantsville | 31 cfs | → |
| Savage Riv Bl Savage Riv Dam Near Bloomington | 58 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek Near Swanton | 154 cfs | → |
| Georges Creek At Franklin | 19 cfs | → |
| North Branch Potomac River At Luke | 313 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near New Germany State Park Dam.
Boat launches
- South Access`
- North Access
- Mount Zion Road Garrett County
- Mill Run Road Garrett County
- Markleton
- Somerfield North Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- New Germany State Park Campground
- New Germany State Park
- Savage River State Forest Dispersed
- Big Run State Park
- Deep Creek Lake State Park
- Robert W. Craig - Jennings Randolph Lake
Fishing spots
- Frostburg Reservoir
- Savage River Reservoir
- Georges Creek
- Dans Mountain Pond
- Sand Spring Run
- Deep Creek Lake
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Youghiogheny River Lake Dam In Confluence, Pennsylvania To Ends In South Connellsville, Pennsylvania
- Begins As River Passes Under The Herrington Manor Road Bridge At Oakland, Maryland To The Corporate Boundary Of Friendsville, Maryland
- Begins South Of Largent To The Confluence With The Potomac At Great Cacapon
- State Park Bridge To North Fork
- Capon Bridge To Ends Just South Of Largent
- Perennial Stream At Forks To Dolly Sods Wilderness Boundary
Track New Germany State 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 New Germany State Park Dam
Where does the data for New Germany State 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 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 New Germany State Park Dam.