Savage River Dam is an earth dam located in Garrett County, Maryland, built in 1952. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 184 ft184 ft tall and 1,050 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against the Statue of Liberty, 305 ft ground to torch; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Savage River Dam
The primary purpose of Savage River Dam 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 Upper Potomac River Commission (state). It impounds the Savage River near Luke.
The dam stands 184 feet tall and stretches 1,050 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 360 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 31,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 105 square miles. Completed in 1952, 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 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 10/08/2024.
At 184 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 | Garrett |
| Nearest City | Luke |
| River/Stream | Savage River |
| Coordinates | 39.50750, -79.13300 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 184 ft |
| Dam Height | 184 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,050 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 31,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 31,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 360 acres |
| Drainage Area | 105 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 97,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Upper Potomac River Commission |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/08/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00014 |
| Federal ID | MD00014 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |