Breach Of Dam Underway At Cascade Lake: Carroll Sheriff

CARROLL COUNTY, MD — A controlled breach of the dam at Cascade Lake is underway. Contractors have been begun the process of removing the dam, the Carroll County Sheriff's Office said Monday.

The process is expected to take several days to complete.

Workers will continue pumping water out of the lake until it is at a level that the Maryland Department of the Environment says is satisfactory, the sheriff's office said in a statement.

Reducing the water level during the process of excavating and removing the dam allows the rate of water flowing downstream to be consistent with what it has been in recent days, officials said.

However, flooding is still possible in the surrounding community.

"During the excavation the dam, there remains a hazard of a failure of the dam due to the previous damage from the flooding," officials said. "If the dam fails and an uncontrolled breach occurs, areas downstream of Cascade Lake along the Tributary of the East Branch of the Patapsco River should be prepared for large amounts of water flowing downstream and possible flooding."

Snydersburg Road remains closed between Cape Horn Road and Hampstead Mexico Road.

Officials said these areas south of Cascade Lake may be impacted:

• Snydersburg Road
• Hampstead Mexico Road
• Brodbeck Road

PREVIOUS REPORT — Authorities say they are excavating a dam at Cascade Lake Monday morning. The project comes after a deluge of rain caused water levels to increase to the point that the lake was overflowing through spill gates in the lake's dam, officials said.

There is a possibility that the dam may fail, officials advised, and water levels could increase as the project progresses.

"During excavation of the dam, there remains a hazard of dam failure so area residents are advised to remain vigilant and aware," the Commissioners of Carroll County and the Carroll County Sheriff's Office said in a joint statement.

RELATED: Cascade Lake Dam Overflowing

Because crews are pumping water from the lake as workers breach the dam, officials said there is a chance that residents in the area may not notice any effects.

Engineers employed by the property owner and the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Division of Dam Safety are monitoring the situation at Cascade Lake.

Snydersburg Road remains closed and will stay closed until further notice, officials reported.

Still of crews draining water from Cascade Lake via WBAL/YouTube.