Lake Of The Pines (Tarnans Branch Crossing) dam
Lake Of The Pines (Tarnans Branch Crossing)
Lake of The Pines, located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, is a picturesque reservoir situated on Tarnans Branch, boasting a surface area of 6.4 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 106 acre-feet. The dam, primarily designed for recreational purposes, stands at a height of 22 feet and stretches 313 feet in length, completed in 1981 by Mc Crone, Inc. The dam is classified as an earth dam with a buttress core, exhibiting a significant hazard potential with fair condition assessment as of April 2021.
Despite its modest size, Lake of The Pines serves as a vital water resource for the surrounding community of Bon Haven, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and other recreational activities. The dam's spillway, of uncontrolled type with a width of 6 feet, ensures the safe release of excess water, with a maximum discharge capacity of 1040 cubic feet per second. The dam underwent structural modifications in 1994 to enhance its safety and operational efficiency, with regular inspections conducted every three years to monitor its condition.
With its serene setting and essential role in water management, Lake of The Pines represents a harmonious blend of human intervention and natural beauty. Governed by the Maryland Dam Safety regulatory agency, the dam ensures the sustainable utilization of water resources while prioritizing public safety. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the maintenance and vigilant monitoring of dams like Lake of The Pines are crucial in adapting to evolving environmental challenges and ensuring resilience in the face of uncertain 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 Lake Of The Pines (Tarnans Branch Crossing) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Patuxent River Near Bowie | 107 cfs | → |
| South Fork Jabez Branch At Millersville | 0 cfs | → |
| Western Branch At Upper Marlboro | 12 cfs | → |
| Sawmill Creek At Glen Burnie | 3 cfs | → |
| Little Patuxent River At Savage | 29 cfs | → |
| North East Branch Anacostia River At Riverdale | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Of The Pines (Tarnans Branch Crossing).
Track Lake Of The Pines (Tarnans Branch Crossing) 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 Lake Of The Pines (Tarnans Branch Crossing)
Where does the data for Lake Of The Pines (Tarnans Branch Crossing) 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 Lake Of The Pines (Tarnans Branch Crossing).