Find Us On:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Avoiding Highways

Life In The Scenic Lane

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Trips
    • Motorcycle Trips
  • Tips
    • Riding Tips
    • Weather Tips
  • Reviews & Recommendations
    • Bars & Restaurants
    • Destinations
  • Work With Us
  • Logbook
    • Crazy and True Stories
    • Thoughts From the Road

Conowingo Dam – The Flood Gates Are Open

July 26, 2018 By Jeff Long

Share95
Tweet
Pin
95 Shares

Conowingo Dam

Conowingo Dam with 20 flood gates open July 26, 2018

Conowingo Dam Flood Gates are Open

When The Rain Comes

The Mid-Atlantic saw record rainfall in July 2018. Most of that rain came down over a 5-day period as a result of tropical moisture moving up from the Bahamas. As the storms left Maryland, they continued north into Pennsylvania, where they continued their deluge.

The Susquehanna River, the longest river on the east coast, is formed from two branches – one in western PA, the other near Cooperstown, NY. The watershed drains 27,500 square miles, eventually emptying into the north end of the Chesapeake Bay. On its way into Maryland, all that water passes through the Conowingo Dam and Hydroelectric Plant.

Ask any Maryland motorcycle rider, and they will probably tell you that they have ridden on Rt. 1, crossing the river along the top of the dam from Darlington in Harford County to Conowingo in Cecil County. It’s a scenic ride, and chances are you’ll see eagles flying around the dam. On any given Sunday during riding season, you can find bikers gathering at the Union Hotel not far from the dam. The lot is usually packed and the overflow often winds up a few miles south at a dock bar in Port Deposit.

Conowingo Dam

Port Deposit July 26, 2018

Port Deposit is a small town nestled on the eastern bank of the Susquehanna – a mere five miles downstream from the dam. The dam has flood gates that can be opened and closed as necessary to manage the water level behind the dam. Obviously, more open gates mean more water coming down the river.

In 2011, Tropical Storm Lee left behind enough water that 44 of the 53 flood gates had to be opened. This led to flooding and a mandatory evacuation of Port Deposit.

As of this writing, at least 20 flood gates were open. The town was under a voluntary evacuation. Officials were estimating that another 4 to 7 gates would have to be opened within the next 24 hours. We will update this post as this story develops.

 

 

Conowingo Dam

Conowingo Dam

https://avoidinghighways.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Conowingo.mp4
Share95
Tweet
Pin
95 Shares

Filed Under: Crazy and True Stories, Logbook

« The Wheels of Freedom

Take a Ride with Us

Hi there & welcome to Avoiding Highways! We are the Long’s and we are so happy you’ve stopped by. Come join us on our travels by motorcycle, by airplane, by helicopter, and even by car! You don’t have to have fancy toys to live life in the scenic lane… you just have to leave the beaten path and follow the roads less-traveled! Read More…

Tail of the Dragon

https://youtu.be/qz5YRGJq7J8

Search

Join Us in the Scenic Lane

Thank you so much!
Jeff & Louise

We want to hear from you!

Have questions or just want to say Hi? Send us an email: Jeff@avoidinghighways.com

Copyright © 2023 · Avoiding Highways.com ·