Neelsville Estates Dam dam
Neelsville Estates Dam
Neelsville Estates Dam, located in Germantown, Maryland, was completed in 1995 with the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Great Seneca Creek. This privately-owned Earth dam stands at 14.5 feet in height and spans 300 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 14.15 acre-feet to manage the runoff from its 0.16 square mile drainage area. The dam's spillway, measuring 66 feet in width, is uncontrolled and contributes to its significant hazard potential.
Despite being assessed as in fair condition as of June 2018, the Neelsville Estates Dam poses a moderate risk according to evaluations, emphasizing the importance of regular inspections. The last inspection in July 2020 revealed the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the dam's structural integrity and functionality. As climate change impacts water resources, enthusiasts and stakeholders in Maryland are urged to stay informed about the management and safety measures in place for Neelsville Estates Dam to mitigate potential risks and uphold its flood risk reduction capabilities.
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 Neelsville Estates Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Seneca Creek At Dawsonville | 38 cfs | → |
| Patuxent River Near Unity | 12 cfs | → |
| Cattail Creek Near Glenwood | 8 cfs | → |
| Hawlings River Near Sandy Spring | 6 cfs | → |
| Bennett Creek At Park Mills | 15 cfs | → |
| Patuxent River Below Brighton Dam Near Brighton | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Neelsville Estates Dam.
Boat launches
- Clarksburg Road Germantown
- Rileys Lock Road Darnestown
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Frederick County
- Potomac Hills Street Fairfax County
- Edwards Ferry Road Montgomery County
- Smart's Mill Rd (Private) Leesburg
Campgrounds
- Little Bennett Regional Park
- Little Bennett Campground
- Turner Farm
- Swains Lock Hiker-Biker Campsite
- Indiant Flats Campsite
- Horsepen Branch Campsite
Track Neelsville Estates 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 Neelsville Estates Dam
Where does the data for Neelsville Estates 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 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 Neelsville Estates Dam.