Eden Mill Dam dam
Eden Mill Dam
Eden Mill Dam, also known as Smith's Mill Dam, is a captivating water resource located in Harford County, Maryland. This earth dam, completed in 1917 by Buchart Horn, stands at a height of 18 feet and spans a length of 158 feet along the Deer Creek. With a primary purpose of recreation, the dam offers a serene setting for enthusiasts to enjoy the surrounding natural beauty.
Despite its fair condition assessment and significant hazard potential, the dam has been regularly inspected and maintained by the Maryland Dam Safety agency. The structure boasts a storage capacity of 17 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 1549 cubic feet per second. With a spillway width of 150 feet and uncontrolled spillway type, the dam has undergone hydraulic and structural modifications in 1994 to ensure its resilience in the face of climate challenges.
With its historical significance and recreational value, Eden Mill Dam serves as a vital water resource for the community while also posing moderate risks that are managed through diligent inspections and risk assessments. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this dam provides a fascinating opportunity to appreciate the intersection of human engineering and natural forces in shaping our environment.
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 Eden Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Creek At Rocks | 132 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek At Castle Fin | 131 cfs | → |
| Little Falls At Blue Mount | 62 cfs | → |
| Bynum Run At Bel Air | 8 cfs | → |
| Winters Run Near Benson | 27 cfs | → |
| Little Gunpowder Falls At Laurel Brook | 26 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Eden Mill Dam.
Boat launches
- Cold Cabin Park
- Dorsey Park
- Mason-Dixon Trail Lower Chanceford Township
- York Furnace
- Spooks Hill Road Baltimore County
- Pequea
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Eden Mill 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 Eden Mill Dam
Where does the data for Eden Mill 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 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 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 Eden Mill Dam.