Savage River Dam dam
Savage River Dam
Savage River Dam, also known as Savage Reservoir, is a state-owned structure located in Luke, Maryland. Designed by Hazen and Sawyer in 2010, with the original design by the US Army Corps of Engineers, this earth dam was completed in 1952 for the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. With a height of 184 feet and a length of 1050 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 31,800 acre-feet and serves as a vital component in managing the Savage River's flow.
The dam's design includes a spillway type that is uncontrolled and a spillway width of 320 feet. It has a high hazard potential due to its location and size, but its condition is currently assessed as satisfactory. The structure underwent a structural modification in 2010 to ensure its continued reliability and safety. With the Savage River Dam being regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, the dam plays a significant role in protecting the surrounding area from flooding and providing recreational opportunities and water supply.
In the event of an emergency, the dam's emergency action plan (EAP) is regularly updated and meets guidelines to ensure quick and effective response. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and management measures to address potential hazards. Overall, Savage River Dam stands as a critical infrastructure for flood risk reduction and water resource management in Garrett 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 Savage River Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Savage Riv Bl Savage Riv Dam Near Bloomington | 58 cfs | → |
| Crabtree Creek Near Swanton | 154 cfs | → |
| North Branch Potomac River At Luke | 316 cfs | → |
| North Branch Potomac River At Barnum | 244 cfs | → |
| Savage River Near Barton | 19 cfs | → |
| Georges Creek At Franklin | 26 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Savage River Dam.
Boat launches
- Mount Zion Road Garrett County
- Blue Trail Garrett County
- South Access`
- North Access
- Mill Run Road Garrett County
- Somerfield North Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Big Run State Park
- Robert W. Craig - Jennings Randolph Lake
- Robert W. Craig Memorial Campground
- Savage River State Forest Dispersed
- New Germany State Park
- New Germany State Park Campground
Fishing spots
- Savage River Reservoir
- Georges Creek
- Dans Mountain Pond
- Little Youghiogheny River Reservoir
- Deep Creek Lake
- Broadford Lake
Paddle runs
- Begins As River Passes Under The Herrington Manor Road Bridge At Oakland, Maryland To The Corporate Boundary Of Friendsville, Maryland
- Begins Below The Youghiogheny River Lake Dam In Confluence, Pennsylvania To Ends In South Connellsville, Pennsylvania
- State Park Bridge To North Fork
- Perennial Stream At Forks To Dolly Sods Wilderness Boundary
- Jake Hill Road Bridge To Shreve Store
- North Fork To Hickory Lick Run
Track Savage River 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 Savage River Dam
Where does the data for Savage River 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 High 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 Savage River Dam.