Town Mall Swm Pond dam
Town Mall Swm Pond
Town Mall Swm Pond, also known as Cranberry Mall Swm Pond, is a privately owned structure located in Westminster, Maryland. This earth dam was completed in 1985 and serves primarily for flood risk reduction, with a height of 12 feet and a length of 500 feet. The pond has a storage capacity of 32 acre-feet, with a surface area of 2.3 acres and a maximum discharge of 296 cubic feet per second.
The dam is regulated by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam is currently in poor condition as of the last assessment in April 2021. The structure has been modified for seismic events and is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway measuring 50 feet in width. With its proximity to Offstream-Longwell Run, Town Mall Swm Pond plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the area.
As an essential infrastructure for flood risk reduction in Carroll County, Town Mall Swm Pond serves as a key component in the state's water resource management strategy. With its moderate risk assessment rating and poor condition, ongoing maintenance and potential rehabilitation efforts are necessary to ensure the safety and effectiveness of this vital water management structure. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the intricate design and functionality of this earth dam, which plays a crucial role in protecting the local community from potential flooding events.
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 Town Mall Swm Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cranberry Branch Near Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
| North Branch Patapsco River At Cedarhurst | 74 cfs | → |
| Beaver Run Near Finksburg | 13 cfs | → |
| Morgan Run Near Louisville | 23 cfs | → |
| Georges Run Near Beckleysville | 19 cfs | → |
| Gwynns Falls At Glyndon | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Town Mall Swm Pond.
Boat launches
- Long Arm Dam, Lawrence B. Sheppard Reservoir
- Piney Run Park
- Lakeview Avenue Carroll County
- Liberty Road Carroll County
- Black Rock Flats Boat Launch
- Spooks Hill Road Baltimore County
Campgrounds
- Camp Conewago - Boy Scouts Of America
- Manor Area - Cunningham Falls State Park
- Houck Area - Cunningham Falls State Park
- Camp Greentop
- Poplar Grove I Group Camping Area
- Poplar Grove Ii Group Camping Area
Fishing spots
Track Town Mall Swm 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 Town Mall Swm Pond
Where does the data for Town Mall Swm 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 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 Town Mall Swm Pond.