Columbia Gateway Dam
Columbia Gateway Dam is an earth dam located in Howard County, Maryland, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Columbia Gateway Dam
The primary purpose of Columbia Gateway Dam 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 Howard Research & Development Corporation (private). It impounds the Dorsey Run-tr near Industrial Park.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 1,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 313 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1972, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/02/2024.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 | Howard |
| Nearest City | Industrial Park |
| River/Stream | Dorsey Run-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.17050, -76.80940 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 313 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 313 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 39 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,820 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Howard Research & Development Corporation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/02/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00079 |
| Federal ID | MD00079 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |