Railroad Branch Swm Pond
Railroad Branch Swm Pond is an earth dam located in Montgomery County, Maryland, built in 1990. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Railroad Branch Swm Pond
The primary purpose of Railroad Branch Swm Pond 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 Montgomery County Dep (local government). It impounds the Gunners Branch-tr near Germantown.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 340 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 34 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1990, the structure is 36 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 12/13/2023.
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 | Montgomery |
| Nearest City | Germantown |
| River/Stream | Gunners Branch-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.17288, -77.26936 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 340 ft |
| Year Completed | 1990 (36 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 34 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 34 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,314 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Montgomery County DEP |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00358 |
| Federal ID | MD00358 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |