Lake Montebello dam
Lake Montebello
Lake Montebello is a picturesque reservoir located in Baltimore City, Maryland, serving as a vital water supply source for the local community. The dam, completed in 1880, stands at a height of 30 feet with a length of 600 feet, creating a storage capacity of 1860 acre-feet. The reservoir covers an area of 55 acres and is nestled within the Offstream-Herring Run watershed, providing a serene oasis amidst the urban landscape.
Despite its age, Lake Montebello is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the Maryland Dam Safety agency to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam's hazard potential is rated as high, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and maintenance. The condition assessment of the dam is deemed fair, indicating that ongoing efforts are being made to uphold its functionality and safety standards. With its historical significance and critical role in water supply, Lake Montebello remains a key feature of Baltimore City's infrastructure.
As climate change impacts water resources worldwide, the conservation and sustainable management of reservoirs like Lake Montebello become increasingly important. By maintaining and upgrading infrastructure, implementing risk management measures, and engaging in proactive monitoring, this reservoir can continue to fulfill its primary purpose of supplying safe and reliable water to the community. Lake Montebello stands as a testament to the intersection of nature, infrastructure, and public health in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Montebello -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Moores Run At Radecke Ave At Baltimore | 0 cfs | → |
| West Branch Herring Run At Idlewylde | 1 cfs | → |
| Minebank Run Near Glen Arm | 0 cfs | → |
| Whitemarsh Run Near Fullerton | 1 cfs | → |
| Gwynns Falls At Washington Blvd At Baltimore | 28 cfs | → |
| Jones Falls At Sorrento | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Montebello.
Track Lake Montebello 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 Montebello
Where does the data for Lake Montebello 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 Montebello.