Montgomery College - Rockville Campus - Swm Dam is an earth dam located in Montgomery County, Maryland, built in 1965. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 14 ft14 ft tall and 95 ft long. 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 Montgomery College - Rockville Campus - Swm Dam
The primary purpose of Montgomery College - Rockville Campus - Swm 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 Montgomery College - Rockville Campus (state). It impounds the Watts Branch near Rockville, Md.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 95 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 16 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/10/2022.
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Location
| State | Maryland |
| County | Montgomery |
| Nearest City | Rockville, Md |
| River/Stream | Watts Branch |
| Coordinates | 39.09650, -77.16020 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 95 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,390 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Montgomery College - Rockville Campus |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/10/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MD00469 |
| Federal ID | MD00469 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |