Riley Mill Dam - Lower Pond dam
Riley Mill Dam - Lower Pond
Riley Mill Dam - Lower Pond, located in Georgetown, Maryland, on Mill Creek, is a private Earth dam completed in 1950 with a height of 14 feet and a length of 500 feet. The dam serves various purposes, including water storage and flood control, with a normal storage capacity of 15 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 30 cubic feet per second. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is poor, with a risk assessment rating of moderate.
The dam has undergone a structural modification in 1999, indicating a commitment to ensuring its continued safety and functionality. However, the last inspection in November 2019 highlighted the need for improvements, as the dam is in poor condition. With a history of state regulation, inspection, and enforcement, the Maryland Dam Safety agency plays a crucial role in overseeing the dam's operation and maintenance to mitigate risks and ensure public safety.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to monitor the condition of Riley Mill Dam - Lower Pond closely and advocate for necessary upgrades and maintenance to reduce the risk of potential failures. By staying informed about the dam's status, collaborating with regulatory agencies, and promoting sustainable water management practices, we can contribute to the preservation of this vital water infrastructure and safeguard the surrounding community and environment from potential hazards.
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 Riley Mill Dam - Lower Pond -- 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 | → |
| Morgan Creek Near Kennedyville | 3 cfs | → |
| Silver Lake Tributary At Middletown | 1 cfs | → |
| Blackbird Creek At Blackbird | 1 cfs | → |
| Christina River At Coochs Bridge | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Riley Mill Dam - Lower Pond.
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 Riley Mill Dam - Lower Pond 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 Riley Mill Dam - Lower Pond
Where does the data for Riley Mill Dam - Lower Pond 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 Riley Mill Dam - Lower Pond.