Waiting Springs Swm Pond
Waiting Springs Swm Pond is an earth dam located in Howard County, Maryland, built in 1971. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Waiting Springs Swm Pond
The primary purpose of Waiting Springs Swm Pond 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 County (local government). It impounds the Little Patuxent River-tr near Columbia.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 285 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 0 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8 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 06/30/2022.
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Location
| State | Maryland |
| County | Howard |
| Nearest City | Columbia |
| River/Stream | Little Patuxent River-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.20255, -76.82613 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 285 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 0 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 461 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Howard County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/30/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00578 |
| Federal ID | MD00578 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |