Riggs Farm Pond dam
Riggs Farm Pond
Riggs Farm Pond is a privately owned water resource located in Roxbury Mills, Howard County, Maryland. The pond was designed by Roger Thomas and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and completed in 1988 for the primary purpose of recreation. It has a dam height of 24 feet, a length of 320 feet, and a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet, providing irrigation and recreational opportunities for the surrounding area.
Managed by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, Riggs Farm Pond has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. The uncontrolled spillway with a width of 20 feet and a maximum discharge of 107 cubic feet per second helps regulate water levels in the pond. Although the condition of the dam is currently not rated, it undergoes inspections every five years to ensure its safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
With a surface area of 9.2 acres and a drainage area of 0.4 square miles, Riggs Farm Pond offers a tranquil setting for water and climate enthusiasts to enjoy outdoor activities while appreciating the importance of sustainable water resource management. Its strategic location along the Little Cattail Creek contributes to the ecological diversity of the region, making it a valuable asset for both recreational enjoyment and environmental conservation efforts.
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 Riggs Farm Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cattail Creek Near Glenwood | 16 cfs | → |
| Patuxent River Near Unity | 15 cfs | → |
| Patuxent River Below Brighton Dam Near Brighton | 14 cfs | → |
| Hawlings River Near Sandy Spring | 17 cfs | → |
| Morgan Run Near Louisville | 24 cfs | → |
| Little Patuxent River At Guilford | 122 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Riggs Farm Pond.
Boat launches
- Piney Run Park
- Liberty Road Carroll County
- Lakeview Avenue Carroll County
- 99 Drop Howard County
- Lightspun Lane 5665, Long Reach
- Supplee Launch
Campgrounds
- Little Bennett Campground
- Little Bennett Regional Park
- Turner Farm
- Swains Lock Hiker-Biker Campsite
- Greenbelt Park
- Indiant Flats Campsite
Track Riggs Farm 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 Riggs Farm Pond
Where does the data for Riggs Farm 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 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 Riggs Farm Pond.