Lake Placid Dam (Edison Park Drive) dam
Lake Placid Dam (Edison Park Drive)
Lake Placid Dam (Edison Park Drive), also known as National Geographic Lake or General Electric Dam, is a local government-owned structure located in Montgomery, Maryland. Built in 1963 by James H. Ludlow Assoc., this earth dam stands at a height of 26 feet and stretches across 1040 feet, serving primarily for recreation and water supply purposes. With a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet and a surface area of 7.5 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in the Muddy Branch-TR watershed.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment and significant hazard potential, Lake Placid Dam has undergone structural modifications in 2009 to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam is regulated by the Maryland Dam Safety agency and is subject to regular inspections, with the last one conducted in April 2021. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam has not experienced any significant incidents, but emergency action plans and risk management measures are in place to handle any potential emergencies effectively.
Lake Placid Dam serves as a vital recreational and water supply resource in Tobytown, contributing to the local community's quality of life. Its historical significance and environmental impact make it a key asset in the region, highlighting the importance of responsible dam management and maintenance to safeguard water resources and mitigate risks associated with dam infrastructure.
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 Placid Dam (Edison Park Drive) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Seneca Creek At Dawsonville | 192 cfs | → |
| Difficult Run Near Great Falls | 9 cfs | → |
| Broad Run Near Leesburg | 1,660 cfs | → |
| Nw Branch Anacostia River Near Colesville | 15 cfs | → |
| Hawlings River Near Sandy Spring | 951 cfs | → |
| Potomac River Near Wash | 2,160 cfs | → |
About Lake Placid Dam (Edison Park Drive)
Where does the data for Lake Placid Dam (Edison Park 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 below 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.
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.