Country Meadows Swm Pond dam
Country Meadows Swm Pond
Country Meadows Swm Pond, located in Laurel, Maryland, serves as a vital flood risk reduction infrastructure designed by Fisher, Collins, and Carter, Inc. Completed in 1988, this earth dam stands at a height of 17 feet with a hydraulic height of 11 feet and a structural height of 14 feet. The primary purpose of this pond is flood risk reduction, with a storage capacity of 10 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.12 square miles.
Despite its crucial role in mitigating flood risks, the Country Meadows Swm Pond has been assessed to be in poor condition with a significant hazard potential. The last inspection in December 2019 revealed the dam's deteriorating state, prompting the need for maintenance and rehabilitation measures to ensure its effectiveness and safety. With a moderate risk level assigned, there is a pressing need for proactive risk management and maintenance strategies to safeguard the surrounding community from potential dangers.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is imperative to monitor and address the condition of essential infrastructure like the Country Meadows Swm Pond to uphold its functionality and protect against the impacts of extreme weather events. Collaborative efforts between local government agencies and regulatory bodies are essential in implementing necessary repairs and improvements to enhance the resilience of this critical flood risk reduction facility in Howard County, Maryland.
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 Country Meadows Swm Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Patuxent River At Savage | 266 cfs | → |
| Patuxent Riv Near Laurel | 19 cfs | → |
| Little Patuxent River At Guilford | 122 cfs | → |
| South Fork Jabez Branch At Millersville | 0 cfs | → |
| Patuxent River Below Brighton Dam Near Brighton | 14 cfs | → |
| East Branch Herbert Run At Arbutus | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Country Meadows Swm Pond.
Boat launches
- Supplee Launch
- Lightspun Lane 5665, Long Reach
- Seaward Drive 504, Anne Arundel County
- 99 Drop Howard County
- Bowie
- Joseph Avenue Baltimore
Track Country Meadows 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 Country Meadows Swm Pond
Where does the data for Country Meadows 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 Country Meadows Swm Pond.