Little Deer Creek Site 2a (mcknight/rutledge)

About Little Deer Creek Site 2a (mcknight/rutledge)

The primary purpose of Little Deer Creek Site 2a (mcknight/rutledge) is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Harford Co Dpw/ann Hanes Mcknight Dryden (private). It impounds the Little Deer Creek-tr near Rocks State Park.

The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 470 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 523 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1962, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.

This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 11/20/2024.

At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 90% of dams nationwide.

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