Rocky Gap Dam
Rocky Gap Dam is an earth dam located in Allegany County, Maryland, built in 1969. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Rocky Gap Dam
The primary purpose of Rocky Gap 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 Md Dnr-public Lands, Engineering & Constr-western (state). It impounds the Rocky Gap Run near Dickens.
The dam stands 98 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 208 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,048 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1969, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/26/2024.
At 98 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Allegany |
| Nearest City | Dickens |
| River/Stream | Rocky Gap Run |
| Coordinates | 39.70069, -78.66194 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 98 ft |
| Dam Height | 98 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,048 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,048 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,381 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 208 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 17,677 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | MD DNR-Public Lands, Engineering & Constr-Western |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/26/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00071 |
| Federal ID | MD00071 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |