Umstc Lower Dam (Curie Drive) dam
Umstc Lower Dam (Curie Drive)
Umstc Lower Dam (Curie Drive) is a vital flood risk reduction structure located in Prince George's County, Maryland, along the Patuxent River. Originally completed in 2001, this earth dam stands at a height of 38 feet and spans a length of 625 feet, providing storage capacity of up to 129 acre-feet of water. The dam, designed by Century Engineering, serves as a crucial safeguard for the surrounding area, with a significant hazard potential and a fair condition assessment as of April 2021.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, Umstc Lower Dam plays a crucial role in protecting the WSSC Pump Sta city area from potential flooding events. The dam's uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 60 feet, can handle a maximum discharge of 1700 cubic feet per second. Regular inspections, conducted every 3 years, ensure the dam's structural integrity and operational readiness. With a moderate risk assessment rating and a designated emergency action plan, Umstc Lower Dam is a key component of the region's water resource and climate resilience infrastructure.
Enthusiasts of water resource management and climate adaptation will appreciate the strategic importance of Umstc Lower Dam in mitigating flood risks and safeguarding communities along the Patuxent River. As a critical piece of infrastructure designed to protect against potential inundation, this earth dam stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts between local government, regulatory agencies, and engineering firms in ensuring the safety and well-being of residents in Prince George's County, Maryland. With its significant storage capacity, controlled spillway, and regular maintenance schedule, Umstc Lower Dam exemplifies the proactive approach to addressing water-related challenges in a changing climate landscape.
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 Umstc Lower Dam (Curie Drive) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Patuxent River Near Bowie | 107 cfs | → |
| South Fork Jabez Branch At Millersville | 0 cfs | → |
| Western Branch At Upper Marlboro | 12 cfs | → |
| North East Branch Anacostia River At Riverdale | 17 cfs | → |
| Little Patuxent River At Savage | 29 cfs | → |
| Watts Branch At Washington | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Umstc Lower Dam (Curie Drive).
Track Umstc Lower Dam (Curie Drive) 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 Umstc Lower Dam (Curie Drive)
Where does the data for Umstc Lower Dam (Curie 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 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 Umstc Lower Dam (Curie Drive).