Liberty Dam
Liberty Dam is a gravity dam located in Baltimore County, Maryland, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Liberty Dam
The primary purpose of Liberty 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 Baltimore City Dpw Reservoir Section (local government). It impounds the North Branch, Patapsco River near Daniels City.
The dam stands 175 feet tall and stretches 704 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,106 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 177,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 164 square miles. Completed in 1953, 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 05/22/2024.
At 175 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Baltimore |
| Nearest City | Daniels City |
| River/Stream | North Branch, Patapsco River |
| Coordinates | 39.37670, -76.89080 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 175 ft |
| Dam Height | 175 ft |
| Dam Length | 704 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 177,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 177,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 132,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,106 acres |
| Drainage Area | 164 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 100,148 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Baltimore City DPW Reservoir Section |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/22/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00003 |
| Federal ID | MD00003 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |