Jessup Prison Dam is an earth dam located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, built in 1982. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 31 ft31 ft tall and 760 ft long, taller than 72% 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 Jessup Prison Dam
The primary purpose of Jessup Prison Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Md House of Corrections (state). It impounds the Dorsey Run-tr.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 760 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 75 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1982, the structure is 44 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/13/2024.
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Location
| State | Maryland |
| County | Anne Arundel |
| River/Stream | Dorsey Run-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.14020, -76.77950 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 760 ft |
| Year Completed | 1982 (44 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 75 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 75 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Md House of Corrections |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/13/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00326 |
| Federal ID | MD00326 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |