Montgomery College - Rockville Campus - Swm Dam dam
Montgomery College - Rockville Campus - Swm Dam
Located in Rockville, Maryland, Montgomery College - Rockville Campus - SWM Dam was completed in 1965 with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Watts Branch. Designed by A. Morton Thomas, Inc., this earth dam stands at a height of 13.79 feet and has a normal storage capacity of 4.84 acre-feet. With a significant hazard potential, the dam is regularly inspected and deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of June 2018.
Managed by the local government, this dam is regulated by the Maryland Dam Safety agency and falls under state jurisdiction for permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam has undergone modifications in 2010 to enhance its structural integrity. In the event of an emergency, an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is in place, last revised in May 2021. With a drainage area of 0.2 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in the area and protecting the surrounding community.
As a vital infrastructure for flood risk reduction, Montgomery College - Rockville Campus - SWM Dam serves as a key component in the water resource management of Montgomery County, Maryland. With its strategic location and design features, the dam contributes to the overall resilience of the area against potential flooding events. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate change will find this dam to be an interesting case study in sustainable infrastructure development and emergency preparedness.
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 Montgomery College - Rockville Campus - Swm Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nw Branch Anacostia River Near Colesville | 3 cfs | → |
| Hawlings River Near Sandy Spring | 6 cfs | → |
| Difficult Run Near Great Falls | 11 cfs | → |
| Seneca Creek At Dawsonville | 38 cfs | → |
| Potomac River Near Wash | 2,160 cfs | → |
| Patuxent River Below Brighton Dam Near Brighton | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Montgomery College - Rockville Campus - Swm Dam.
Boat launches
- Potomac Hills Street Fairfax County
- Rileys Lock Road Darnestown
- Clarksburg Road Germantown
- Supplee Launch
- Edwards Ferry Road Montgomery County
- Ashburn Village Boulevard 20585, Lansdowne
Campgrounds
- Swains Lock Hiker-Biker Campsite
- Marsden Tract Group Campsite
- Marsden Tract Campground
- Little Bennett Regional Park
- Lake Fairfax
- Little Bennett Campground
Track Montgomery College - Rockville Campus - Swm 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 Montgomery College - Rockville Campus - Swm Dam
Where does the data for Montgomery College - Rockville Campus - Swm 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 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 Montgomery College - Rockville Campus - Swm Dam.