Lower Lake Royer
Lower Lake Royer is an earth dam located in Washington County, Maryland, built in 1898. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lower Lake Royer
The primary purpose of Lower Lake Royer 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 Washington Co Commissioners (local government). It impounds the Falls Creek-tr near Rouzerville, Pa.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 230 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1898, the structure is over a century 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/19/2024.
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 | Washington |
| Nearest City | Rouzerville, Pa |
| River/Stream | Falls Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.71167, -77.49500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1898 (128 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 230 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 230 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Washington Co Commissioners |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/19/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00070 |
| Federal ID | MD00070 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |