Lake Montebello
Lake Montebello is an earth dam located in Baltimore City, Maryland, built in 1880. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Montebello
Lake Montebello is a dam in Baltimore City, Maryland. The dam is owned by Baltimore City Dpw Reservoir Section (local government). It impounds the Offstream-herring Run near Baltimore City.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 55 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,860 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1880, 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 11/21/2024.
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 | Baltimore City |
| Nearest City | Baltimore City |
| River/Stream | Offstream-herring Run |
| Coordinates | 39.33322, -76.57947 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1880 (146 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,860 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,860 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,260 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 55 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Baltimore City DPW Reservoir Section |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/21/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00107 |
| Federal ID | MD00107 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |