Lake Elkhorn
Lake Elkhorn is an earth dam located in Howard County, Maryland, built in 1974. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Elkhorn
The primary purpose of Lake Elkhorn 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 26 feet tall and stretches 662 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 49 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 910 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1974, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/25/2024.
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.
Location
| State | Maryland |
| County | Howard |
| Nearest City | Columbia |
| River/Stream | Little Patuxent River-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.18273, -76.84645 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 662 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 910 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 910 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 225 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 49 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,912 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Columbia Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/25/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00125 |
| Federal ID | MD00125 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |