Chevy Chase Lakes dam
Chevy Chase Lakes
Chevy Chase Lakes, located in Montgomery County, Maryland, is a private earth dam constructed in 1900 by designer Loiderman. This dam stands at 24 feet tall and spans 300 feet in length, with a spillway type classified as "Uncontrolled." The dam's primary purpose and associated structures remain unspecified, but it is regulated by the Maryland Dam Safety agency, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place.
The dam's hazard potential is deemed "Significant," with a moderate risk assessment rating. While the condition assessment is labeled as "Not Rated," the last inspection conducted in October 2020 suggests ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts. The dam's location near Coquelin Run-TR contributes to its vital role in managing water resources and climate impact in the region, highlighting the importance of its structural integrity and risk management measures. As a focal point within Congressional District 08, Maryland, Chevy Chase Lakes serves as a key component in the area's water infrastructure network.
Overall, Chevy Chase Lakes serves as a historical and functional landmark in Maryland's water resource management system. With its significant hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, ongoing vigilance and maintenance are crucial to ensure the dam's continued effectiveness in mitigating potential climate and water-related challenges. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding and monitoring the status of Chevy Chase Lakes is essential for promoting sustainable and resilient water management practices in the region.
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 Chevy Chase Lakes -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Creek At Sherrill Drive Washington | 38 cfs | → |
| Potomac River Near Wash | 2,550 cfs | → |
| Nw Branch Anacostia River Near Colesville | 4 cfs | → |
| Nw Branch Anacostia River Near Hyattsville | 10 cfs | → |
| North East Branch Anacostia River At Riverdale | 18 cfs | → |
| Difficult Run Near Great Falls | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chevy Chase Lakes.
⚓ Boat launches
- Gravelly Point Boat Ramp
- Potomac Hills Street Fairfax County
- Anacostia Park Boat Ramp
- Wayne F Anderson Bikeway Alexandria
- Supplee Launch
- Rileys Lock Road Darnestown
⛺ Campgrounds
More campgrounds →Track Chevy Chase Lakes 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 Chevy Chase Lakes
Where does the data for Chevy Chase Lakes 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 Chevy Chase Lakes.