Woodlawn Railroad Embankment On Basin Run
Woodlawn Railroad Embankment On Basin Run is an earth dam located in Cecil County, Maryland, built in 1940. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Woodlawn Railroad Embankment On Basin Run
Woodlawn Railroad Embankment On Basin Run is a dam in Cecil, Maryland. The dam is owned by Bainbridge Development Corporation (state). It impounds the Basin Run near Cardiff.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 1,800 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 450 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1940, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/12/2024.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.
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 | Cecil |
| Nearest City | Cardiff |
| River/Stream | Basin Run |
| Coordinates | 39.64200, -76.10050 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 450 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 450 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Bainbridge Development Corporation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/12/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00462 |
| Federal ID | MD00462 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |