Rocky Gorge Reservoir

Rocky Gorge Reservoir
Location Burtonsville, Maryland
Coordinates 39°07′29″N 76°54′22″W / 39.124667°N 76.906099°W / 39.124667; -76.906099Coordinates: 39°07′29″N 76°54′22″W / 39.124667°N 76.906099°W / 39.124667; -76.906099
Type reservoir
Primary inflows Patuxent River
Primary outflows Patuxent River
Catchment area 132 sq mi (340 km2)
Basin countries United States
Surface area 773 acres (313 ha)
Average depth 74 ft (23 m)
Water volume 5,500,000,000 US gal (0.021 km3)

Rocky Gorge Reservoir is located on the Patuxent River in Howard County, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County, Maryland near the town of Burtonsville. The reservoir was created in 1952 by the construction of the T. Howard Duckett Dam on the Patuxent.[1] The dam is visible from Interstate 95 near mile marker 34. Because of its close association with a dam by the name, the reservoir is sometimes called the T. Howard Duckett Reservoir. It has a surface area of 773 acres (3.13 km2).[2] The reservoir is maintained as a drinking water source by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC).

WSSC provides recreational facilities to the public on portions of the Rocky Gorge property, including hiking, picnicing, fishing, boating, horseback riding, and hunting.[3] Local fish species include pike and largemouth bass.

Namesake

T. Howard Duckett drafted the law officially establishing the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission as a permanent bi-county agency.[4] Following lobbying by E. Brooke Lee, the law was passed, effective May 1, 1918.[4] Duckett was named one of the three first official commissioners.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. Laurel, MD. "The WSSC -- A Thumbnail History." June 2007.
  2. ↑ Maryland Department of the Environment. Baltimore, MD."Total Maximum Daily Loads of Phosphorus and Sediments for Triadelphia Reservoir (Brighton Dam) and Total Maximum Daily Loads of Phosphorus for Rocky Gorge Reservoir, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties, Maryland." Final. June 2008. p. 4.
  3. ↑ "Top 5 Things to Do at the Rocky Gorge Reservoir | The Wayside Inn". The Wayside Inn. February 9, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 Brigham, Arthur. "The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission". The Montgomery County Story. Montgomery County Historical Society. 21. 3. August 1978.


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