Broad Creek Dam

About Broad Creek Dam

The primary purpose of Broad Creek Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Boy Scouts Of America-balt (private). It impounds the Broad Creek near Summer Homes Along Broad Crk.

The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 330 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 40 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 958 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 31 square miles. Completed in 1948, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/07/2024.

At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.

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.

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