Greenbelt Dam

Greenbelt Dam is an earth dam located in Prince George's County, Maryland, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Greenbelt Dam

The primary purpose of Greenbelt Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Greenbelt (local government). It impounds the Indian Creek-tr near Greenbelt.

The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 640 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 21 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 326 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1936, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

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 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 06/27/2024.

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.

High HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateMaryland
CountyPrince George's
Nearest CityGreenbelt
River/StreamIndian Creek-tr
Coordinates39.00270, -76.89070

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height22 ft
Dam Height22 ft
Dam Length640 ft
Year Completed1936 (90 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage326 acre-ft
Max Storage326 acre-ft
Normal Storage206 acre-ft
Surface Area21 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge2,000 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerCity of Greenbelt
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection06/27/2024
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDMD00008
Federal IDMD00008
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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