Greenbelt Dam
Greenbelt Dam is an earth dam located in Prince George's County, Maryland, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Greenbelt Dam
The primary purpose of Greenbelt Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Greenbelt (local government). It impounds the Indian Creek-tr near Greenbelt.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 640 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 21 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 326 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1936, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/27/2024.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Maryland dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Maryland |
| County | Prince George's |
| Nearest City | Greenbelt |
| River/Stream | Indian Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.00270, -76.89070 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 640 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 326 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 326 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 206 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Greenbelt |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/27/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00008 |
| Federal ID | MD00008 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |