Burnt Mills Dam

Burnt Mills Dam is a dam located in Montgomery County, Maryland, built in 1930. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Burnt Mills Dam

The primary purpose of Burnt Mills Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mncppc-burnt Mills (local government). It impounds the Northwest Branch near Us Rte 29.

The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 230 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 97 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 26 square miles. Completed in 1930, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 05/03/2023.

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Significant HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: No

Location

StateMaryland
CountyMontgomery
Nearest CityUs Rte 29
River/StreamNorthwest Branch
Coordinates39.03102, -77.00654

Physical Characteristics

NID Height23 ft
Dam Height23 ft
Dam Length230 ft
Year Completed1930 (96 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage97 acre-ft
Max Storage97 acre-ft
Normal Storage38 acre-ft
Surface Area6 acres
Drainage Area26 sq mi
Max Discharge12,285 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerMNCPPC-Burnt Mills
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection05/03/2023
Emergency Action PlanNo

Identifiers

NID IDMD00227
Federal IDMD00227
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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