Teels Lake Dam dam
Teels Lake Dam
Teels Lake Dam, located in Shorewood Estates, Kent County, Maryland, serves as a crucial structure for flood risk reduction along Swantown Creek. Built in 1961 by Law Engineering, this privately owned earth dam stands at 11 feet tall and spans 200 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 376 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is regularly inspected by Maryland Dam Safety to ensure its fair condition and compliance with state regulations.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 45 feet and has a moderate risk assessment rating. While it has not undergone major modifications since 2004, the dam's risk management measures and emergency action plan status are currently undisclosed. With a drainage area of 3.8 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 48 acre-feet, Teels Lake Dam plays a vital role in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Teels Lake Dam's strategic location and design make it a significant asset for water resource management in the region. As climate change continues to impact water levels and weather patterns, the dam's role in flood risk reduction and its adherence to state regulatory standards are essential for protecting the community of Shorewood Estates and ensuring the safety of residents downstream along Swantown Creek.
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 Teels Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Unicorn Branch Near Millington | 5 cfs | → |
| Chesterville Branch Near Crumpton | 1 cfs | → |
| Silver Lake Tributary At Middletown | 1 cfs | → |
| Blackbird Creek At Blackbird | 1 cfs | → |
| Morgan Creek Near Kennedyville | 3 cfs | → |
| Christina River At Coochs Bridge | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Teels Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Fredericktown Boat Ramp
- Port Herman Drive 92, Cecil County
- Buckingham Road 9500, Kent County
- Stave Landing Road New Castle County
- Carlton Lane 138, Kent County
- Collins Beach Road New Castle County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Teels Lake 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 Teels Lake Dam
Where does the data for Teels Lake 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 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 Teels Lake Dam.