Valley Mall Expansion Swm Dam dam
Valley Mall Expansion Swm Dam
The Valley Mall Expansion Swm Dam in Williamsport, Maryland, is a private dam constructed in 1987 primarily for flood risk reduction along the Conococheague-TR-Semple Run river. The dam is an earth-core type structure with a height of 19 feet and a hydraulic height of 16 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 58 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and moderate risk rating, the dam serves as a critical infrastructure for managing stormwater and protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Maryland Dam Safety regulatory agency, the Valley Mall Expansion Swm Dam undergoes regular inspections and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and operational efficiency. Despite being uncontrolled, the dam features a spillway with a width of 25 feet to manage excess water flow during periods of heavy rainfall. The dam's location within the Baltimore District and its close proximity to Washington County makes it a key piece of infrastructure contributing to the overall water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the design and purpose of the Valley Mall Expansion Swm Dam sheds light on the importance of flood risk reduction and infrastructure maintenance in mitigating potential hazards. By recognizing the role of private dams like this one in safeguarding communities and ecosystems from the impacts of extreme weather events, we can advocate for sustainable water management practices and continued investment in critical infrastructure to adapt to changing climate 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 Valley Mall Expansion Swm Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Conococheague Creek At Fairview | 174 cfs | → |
| Marsh Run At Grimes | 6 cfs | → |
| Antietam Creek Near Waynesboro | 39 cfs | → |
| Antietam Creek Near Sharpsburg | 129 cfs | → |
| Potomac River At Shepherdstown | 1,610 cfs | → |
| Tuscarora Creek Above Martinsburg | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Valley Mall Expansion Swm Dam.
Boat launches
- Taylors Landing
- Starliper Road Washington County
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Trail Washington County
- Blairs Valley Lake
- Big Red Trail Mount Lena
Campgrounds
- Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park
- Jordan Junction Campsite
- Jordan Junction Hiker Biker Campsite
- Cumberland Valley Hiker Biker Campsite
- Cumberland Valley Campsite
- Opequon Junction Campsite
Fishing spots
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal
- Potomac River Reservoir
- Blairs Valley Lake
- Hunting Creek Lake
- Little Owens Creek
- Culler Lake
Track Valley Mall Expansion 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 Valley Mall Expansion Swm Dam
Where does the data for Valley Mall Expansion 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 Low 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 Valley Mall Expansion Swm Dam.