Cohen Pond is an earth dam located in Frederick County, Maryland, built in 1952. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 400 ft long, taller than 76% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Cohen Pond
The primary purpose of Cohen Pond is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by David Chaput (private). It impounds the Ballenger Creek-tr near Wye Creek.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 52 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1952, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 11/29/2023.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Maryland |
| County | Frederick |
| Nearest City | Wye Creek |
| River/Stream | Ballenger Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.40273, -77.50290 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 52 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 52 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 38 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 83 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | David Chaput |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/29/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00295 |
| Federal ID | MD00295 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |