Centennial Park Dam dam
Centennial Park Dam
Centennial Park Dam, located in Columbia, Maryland, was completed in 1985 by Rummel, Klepper & Kahl and is primarily owned by the local government. This earth dam stands at 42 feet tall and stretches out over 1025 feet, serving the critical purpose of flood risk reduction along the Little Patuxent River. With a storage capacity of 1519 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 510 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
The dam's spillway, with a width of 2500 feet, is uncontrolled and can handle a maximum discharge of 13,897 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment as of April 2021 was deemed satisfactory. The dam is regulated by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, which oversees its inspection, enforcement, and permitting processes. This vital infrastructure not only mitigates flood risks but also contributes to the overall water management strategy in the region.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Centennial Park Dam to be a fascinating structure that combines engineering excellence with environmental stewardship. Its strategic location and design make it a key player in the sustainable management of water resources in Howard County, Maryland. As climate change continues to impact water availability and flood patterns, the importance of structures like Centennial Park Dam in maintaining water security and mitigating risks cannot be understated.
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 Centennial Park Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Patuxent River At Guilford | 122 cfs | → |
| Patapsco River At Hollofield | 115 cfs | → |
| Little Patuxent River At Savage | 266 cfs | → |
| East Branch Herbert Run At Arbutus | 9 cfs | → |
| Dead Run At Franklintown | 28 cfs | → |
| Patuxent Riv Near Laurel | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Centennial Park Dam.
Boat launches
- Lightspun Lane 5665, Long Reach
- 99 Drop Howard County
- Supplee Launch
- Liberty Road Carroll County
- Lakeview Avenue Carroll County
- Joseph Avenue Baltimore
Campgrounds
Track Centennial Park 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 Centennial Park Dam
Where does the data for Centennial Park 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 Centennial Park Dam.