Tower Hill Community Pond Dam (Tower Hill Road) dam
Tower Hill Community Pond Dam (Tower Hill Road)
Tower Hill Community Pond Dam, also known as Guyther Farm Pond, is a privately owned water supply structure located in St. Mary's County, Maryland. Built in 1975, this earth dam stands at a height of 18 feet and has a storage capacity of 28 acre-feet, providing water for both recreational activities and local water supply needs. Situated on Poplar Creek, the dam spans 312 feet in length and covers a surface area of 12 acres.
Maintained by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, the Tower Hill Community Pond Dam has a significant hazard potential and is classified as having a fair condition assessment. With a moderate risk level, the dam underwent structural modifications in 2003 to improve its safety and resilience to potential hazards. Regular inspections ensure the dam's integrity and compliance with state regulations, with the last assessment conducted in March 2020.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Tower Hill Community Pond Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned earth dam serving multiple purposes in a rural setting. Its location on Poplar Creek and its role in water supply management offer valuable insights into the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams for both safety and sustainability. As a key piece of infrastructure in the region, this dam exemplifies the intersection of human activity and natural resources in shaping local landscapes and water ecosystems.
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 Tower Hill Community Pond Dam (Tower Hill Road) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St Marys River At Great Mills | 2 cfs | → |
| St Clement Creek Near Clements | 1 cfs | → |
| Zekiah Swamp Run Near Newtown | 2 cfs | → |
| Piscataway Creek Near Tappahannock | 12 cfs | → |
| Mattawoman Creek Near Pomonkey | 1 cfs | → |
| Mattaponi River Near Beulahville | 44 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tower Hill Community Pond Dam (Tower Hill Road).
Track Tower Hill Community Pond Dam (Tower Hill Road) 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 Tower Hill Community Pond Dam (Tower Hill Road)
Where does the data for Tower Hill Community Pond Dam (Tower Hill Road) 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 Tower Hill Community Pond Dam (Tower Hill Road).