Watts Farm Pond dam
Watts Farm Pond
Watts Farm Pond, located in Hanesville, Maryland, is a privately owned irrigation pond that serves multiple purposes including fish and wildlife habitat. Built in 1977 with a dam height of 16 feet and a length of 570 feet, the pond has a maximum storage capacity of 60 acre-feet and covers an area of 8.4 acres. The dam is primarily of earth construction with a buttress core design and is regulated by the Maryland Dam Safety agency.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Watts Farm Pond is considered to be in good condition and is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being uncontrolled, the pond's spillway width of 30 feet allows for a maximum discharge of 300 cubic feet per second. The pond's drainage area is 0.23 square miles, with the water source coming from Mill Creek.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Watts Farm Pond offers a unique opportunity to study the intersection of water management, wildlife conservation, and agricultural practices. Its location in the Kent County of Maryland and its association with the Natural Resources Conservation Service make it a valuable case study for understanding the complexities of maintaining a man-made water feature in a rural environment. With its diverse ecosystem and vital role in supporting local irrigation needs, Watts Farm Pond stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of increasing 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 Watts Farm Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Morgan Creek Near Kennedyville | 3 cfs | → |
| Chesterville Branch Near Crumpton | 1 cfs | → |
| Unicorn Branch Near Millington | 5 cfs | → |
| Otter Point Creek Near Edgewood | 57 cfs | → |
| Honeygo Run Near White Marsh | 0 cfs | → |
| Whitemarsh Run At White Marsh | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Watts Farm Pond.
Track Watts Farm Pond 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 Watts Farm Pond
Where does the data for Watts Farm Pond 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 Watts Farm Pond.