Claiborne Gooch dam
Claiborne Gooch
Claiborne Gooch, located in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, is a privately owned Earth dam built in 1982 by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam, standing at 8 feet tall and spanning 850 feet in length, holds a maximum storage capacity of 84 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 19 acres. It serves as a vital resource for the local community, offering recreational opportunities while also providing flood control and water storage for Island Creek.
Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Claiborne Gooch has not undergone a recent condition assessment, and there is limited information available regarding its emergency action plan and risk management measures. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates pose potential risks in the event of extreme weather events or structural degradation. Continuous monitoring and maintenance are crucial to ensuring the safety and longevity of the dam, especially in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water resource challenges.
As a passionate advocate for water resource and climate enthusiasts, Claiborne Gooch presents an opportunity for stakeholders to engage in discussions around sustainable dam management practices, emergency preparedness, and the importance of investing in resilient infrastructure. By prioritizing regular inspections, updating emergency action plans, and implementing risk mitigation strategies, we can better protect our communities and natural resources from the impacts of climate change and ensure the long-term viability of structures like Claiborne Gooch for generations to come.
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 Claiborne Gooch -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tuckahoe Creek Near Ruthsburg | 31 cfs | → |
| Sallie Harris Creek Near Carmichael | 3 cfs | → |
| Chesterville Branch Near Crumpton | 1 cfs | → |
| Choptank River Near Greensboro | 36 cfs | → |
| Morgan Creek Near Kennedyville | 3 cfs | → |
| Unicorn Branch Near Millington | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Claiborne Gooch.
Track Claiborne Gooch 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 Claiborne Gooch
Where does the data for Claiborne Gooch 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 Claiborne Gooch.