Lake Merle Dam
Lake Merle Dam is an earth dam located in Frederick County, Maryland, built in 1971. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Merle Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Merle Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Linganore Association (private). It impounds the Linganore Creek-tr near Balmoral.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 303 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 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 06/13/2023.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 90% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Maryland |
| County | Frederick |
| Nearest City | Balmoral |
| River/Stream | Linganore Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.42260, -77.30200 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 303 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 303 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 141 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Lake Linganore Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00072 |
| Federal ID | MD00072 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |