Myrtle Grove Lake dam
Myrtle Grove Lake
Myrtle Grove Lake in Charles, Maryland is a state-regulated recreational lake with a dam height of 14 feet and a length of 1800 feet, completed in 1965. The lake has a normal storage capacity of 88 acre-feet, a surface area of 23 acres, and a drainage area of 2.3 square miles. Located in Buteaux Crossing, Myrtle Grove Lake is a popular spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife watching.
Managed by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, Myrtle Grove Lake has a low hazard potential and is in satisfactory condition, as assessed in April 2021. The dam has undergone modifications in 1998 for hydraulic purposes and is inspected every 5 years to ensure its safety and reliability. In the event of an emergency, the lake is equipped with a valve outlet gate and an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 4 feet to manage water flow and mitigate potential risks.
With its serene setting and diverse recreational opportunities, Myrtle Grove Lake serves as a valuable water resource for the local community and a prime destination for nature enthusiasts seeking solace in the beauty of Maryland's natural landscapes. As a well-maintained and regulated facility, the lake offers a safe and enjoyable environment for visitors to connect with nature and appreciate the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of 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 Myrtle Grove Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mattawoman Creek Near Pomonkey | 1 cfs | → |
| Zekiah Swamp Run Near Newtown | 2 cfs | → |
| Piscataway Creek At Piscataway | 3 cfs | → |
| Cameron Run At Alexandria | 6 cfs | → |
| Accotink Creek Near Annandale | 3 cfs | → |
| Long Branch Near Annandale | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Myrtle Grove Lake.
Boat launches
- Marshall Hall Boat Ramp Charles County
- Friendship Landing Road 4701, Charles County
- Ludgate Drive Mount Vernon
- Wharf Road Accokeek
- Gilbert Run Boat Ramp
- Forest Hill Road Lake Ridge
Campgrounds
- Smallwood State Park
- Smallwood State Park Youth Group Campsite
- Pohick Bay Regional Park
- Fort Belvoir Travel And Rv Camp
- Prince William Forest Rv Campground
- Cabin Camp 4 - Pleasant Historic District
Fishing spots
Track Myrtle Grove Lake 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 Myrtle Grove Lake
Where does the data for Myrtle Grove Lake 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 Myrtle Grove Lake.