Richard Smith Dam
Richard Smith Dam is an earth dam located in Kent County, Maryland, built in 1970. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Richard Smith Dam
The primary purpose of Richard Smith Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Floyd Price Jr. & Terri (private). It impounds the Herring Branch.
The dam stands 9 feet tall and stretches 345 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 56 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1970, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected 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. The most recent inspection on record was 10/24/2024.
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Location
| State | Maryland |
| County | Kent |
| River/Stream | Herring Branch |
| Coordinates | 39.36398, -75.79108 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 345 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 56 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 56 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,425 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Floyd Price Jr. & Terri |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00399 |
| Federal ID | MD00399 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |