Piney Run Dam
Piney Run Dam is an earth dam located in Carroll County, Maryland, built in 1974. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Piney Run Dam
The primary purpose of Piney Run Dam 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 Carroll Co Recreation And Parks (local government). It impounds the Piney Run near Springfield Hospital Center.
The dam stands 73 feet tall and stretches 624 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 298 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,842 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1974, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/31/2024.
At 73 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Carroll |
| Nearest City | Springfield Hospital Center |
| River/Stream | Piney Run |
| Coordinates | 39.38800, -76.97610 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 73 ft |
| Dam Height | 73 ft |
| Dam Length | 624 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,842 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,842 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,036 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 298 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 22,002 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Carroll Co Recreation and Parks |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/31/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00139 |
| Federal ID | MD00139 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |