Guilford Road Dam dam
Guilford Road Dam
Guilford Road Dam, located in Howard County, Maryland, is a key structure managed by the Maryland Dam Safety agency for flood risk reduction along the Little Patuxent River. While specific details about the dam's height, volume, and storage capacity are not provided, its significance lies in its critical role in protecting the surrounding community from potential flooding events. The dam is designated as an Earth type structure and is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Despite its important function, Guilford Road Dam is currently assessed as being in poor condition, with a significant hazard potential. The last inspection in December 2021 highlighted the need for attention and maintenance to address potential risks associated with the dam. Emergency action plans are also in place, although details about their preparedness and adherence to guidelines are not specified. The dam's location in an area prone to flooding underscores the importance of proactive risk management and maintenance to ensure the safety of nearby residents and infrastructure.
As an enthusiast of water resources and climate issues, understanding the status and condition of dams like Guilford Road Dam is crucial for assessing the resilience of our infrastructure in the face of changing environmental conditions. The data provided offers valuable insights into the regulatory oversight, inspection frequency, and risk assessment of this particular dam, highlighting the ongoing efforts to mitigate potential hazards and protect the community from flood events. Continued monitoring and maintenance of structures like Guilford Road Dam are essential for ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water resources in the face of a changing climate.
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 Guilford Road Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Patuxent River At Savage | 266 cfs | → |
| Little Patuxent River At Guilford | 122 cfs | → |
| Patuxent Riv Near Laurel | 19 cfs | → |
| East Branch Herbert Run At Arbutus | 9 cfs | → |
| South Fork Jabez Branch At Millersville | 0 cfs | → |
| Sawmill Creek At Glen Burnie | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Guilford Road Dam.
Track Guilford Road 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 Guilford Road Dam
Where does the data for Guilford Road 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 Guilford Road Dam.