Wilde Lake Dam
Wilde Lake Dam is a gravity dam located in Howard County, Maryland, built in 1967. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Wilde Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Wilde Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Columbia Association (private). It impounds the Little Patuxent River-tr near Columbia.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 280 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 23 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 317 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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 | 39.22346, -76.85925 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 280 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 317 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 317 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 202 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 23 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,869 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Columbia Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/30/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00051 |
| Federal ID | MD00051 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |