Victory Farms dam
Victory Farms
Victory Farms, located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a local government-owned earth dam built in 1973 primarily for flood risk reduction along the Whetstone Run-TR. Standing at a height of 30 feet with a hydraulic height of 24 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.65 square miles. With a significant hazard potential, the dam has a spillway width of 55 feet and an uncontrolled spillway type, allowing for a maximum discharge of 2000 cubic feet per second.
The dam is under the jurisdiction of the Maryland Dam Safety regulatory agency, which conducts regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. Despite being rated as "Not Rated" in its condition assessment, the dam has a moderate risk level of 3. Emergency action plans are in place, and the dam is inspected every three years to mitigate potential risks. Victory Farms serves as a vital infrastructure for flood control in the area, showcasing the importance of water resource management in climate adaptation efforts.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, Victory Farms presents an intriguing case study of a locally managed dam with a crucial role in flood risk reduction. With its historical significance dating back to the 1970s, the dam stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to safeguard communities against the impacts of extreme weather events. By understanding the design, purpose, and management of Victory Farms, enthusiasts can gain insights into the intricate balance between water resource development and climate resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Victory Farms -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Seneca Creek At Dawsonville | 38 cfs | → |
| Hawlings River Near Sandy Spring | 7 cfs | → |
| Patuxent River Near Unity | 12 cfs | → |
| Patuxent River Below Brighton Dam Near Brighton | 14 cfs | → |
| Cattail Creek Near Glenwood | 8 cfs | → |
| Nw Branch Anacostia River Near Colesville | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Victory Farms.
Boat launches
- Clarksburg Road Germantown
- Potomac Hills Street Fairfax County
- Rileys Lock Road Darnestown
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Frederick County
- Edwards Ferry Road Montgomery County
- Supplee Launch
Campgrounds
- Little Bennett Regional Park
- Swains Lock Hiker-Biker Campsite
- Little Bennett Campground
- Marsden Tract Group Campsite
- Marsden Tract Campground
- Horsepen Branch Campsite
Track Victory Farms 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 Victory Farms
Where does the data for Victory Farms 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 Victory Farms.