Highland Lake dam
Highland Lake
Highland Lake, located in Clarksville, Maryland, is a privately owned dam constructed in 1960 primarily for flood risk reduction along the Middle Patuxent River. The dam is classified as an earth dam with a height of 22 feet and a length of 350 feet, providing a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet. The reservoir covers an area of 5 acres and has a drainage area of 0.13 square miles, with a maximum discharge rate of 60 cubic feet per second.
The dam underwent structural repairs in 2001 by EQR Environmental Engineers/Contractors, ensuring its continued safety and functionality. Recent inspections have deemed the dam to be in satisfactory condition with a low hazard potential. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has been regularly monitored and maintained, meeting state regulatory requirements for permitting, inspection, and enforcement by the Maryland Dam Safety agency.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will be intrigued by Highland Lake's strategic role in mitigating flood risks in Howard County and its impact on the local ecosystem. The dam's design and maintenance reflect a commitment to safeguarding the surrounding community while balancing environmental concerns. As a critical infrastructure asset, Highland Lake serves as a model for sustainable water management practices in the face of changing climate conditions and evolving regulatory standards.
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 Highland Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Patuxent River Below Brighton Dam Near Brighton | 14 cfs | → |
| Hawlings River Near Sandy Spring | 17 cfs | → |
| Patuxent River Near Unity | 15 cfs | → |
| Little Patuxent River At Guilford | 122 cfs | → |
| Cattail Creek Near Glenwood | 16 cfs | → |
| Patuxent Riv Near Laurel | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Highland Lake.
Boat launches
- Supplee Launch
- Lightspun Lane 5665, Long Reach
- 99 Drop Howard County
- Piney Run Park
- Liberty Road Carroll County
- Lakeview Avenue Carroll County
Campgrounds
Track Highland Lake 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 Highland Lake
Where does the data for Highland Lake 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 Highland Lake.