Frostburg Reservoir
Frostburg Reservoir is an earth dam located in Garrett County, Maryland, built in 1990. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Frostburg Reservoir
The primary purpose of Frostburg Reservoir is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Frostburg (local government). It impounds the Big Piney Run near Engles Mill, Pa.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 1,275 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 110 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,276 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1990, the structure is 36 years old.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/06/2024.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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 | Garrett |
| Nearest City | Engles Mill, Pa |
| River/Stream | Big Piney Run |
| Coordinates | 39.70200, -79.00960 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,275 ft |
| Year Completed | 1990 (36 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,276 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,276 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,410 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 110 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 22,188 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Frostburg |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/06/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00009 |
| Federal ID | MD00009 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |