Kurt Sherman Dam (upper Pond)
Kurt Sherman Dam (upper Pond) is an earth dam located in Washington County, Maryland, built in 1957. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Kurt Sherman Dam (upper Pond)
The primary purpose of Kurt Sherman Dam (upper Pond) is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Kurt Sherman (private). It impounds the Offstream-dry Run near Dry Run.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 1,060 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 58 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/17/2024.
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 | Washington |
| Nearest City | Dry Run |
| River/Stream | Offstream-dry Run |
| Coordinates | 39.72022, -77.89740 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,060 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 58 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 58 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 39 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Kurt Sherman |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/17/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00360 |
| Federal ID | MD00360 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |