Little Falls Dam (Potomac River)
Little Falls Dam, also known as Brookmont Dam, is a low dam on the Potomac River, built in 1959 to divert water for the water supply system of Washington, D.C., just below Mather Gorge, about 2 miles (3.2 km) above Chain Bridge. The 14-foot (4.3 m) dam was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is responsible for the D.C. water supply. It contributes roughly 15 to 20 percent of water intake from the Potomac to the Washington Aqueduct, rising to 30 percent in time of drought.
| Little Falls Dam | |
|---|---|
  Location of Little Falls Dam | |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 38°56′54.03″N 77°07′46.73″W |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1959 |
| Owner(s) | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Concrete gravity |
| Impounds | Potomac River |
| Height | 14 ft (4.3 m) |
| Length | 1,500 feet (460 m) |
| Spillway type | Uncontrolled overflow |
The dam blocks fish migration routes several miles below their natural end at the Great Falls of the Potomac River. It has been termed "the drowning machine" in recognition of its danger to boaters and swimmers who can be trapped in the flow at its base.[1][2] The dam was altered in 2000 to improve fish passage.[3] The profile at the base has also been altered to reduce the chances of swimmer entrapment beneath the surface.
References
- Seltzer, Yosefi (October 13, 1994). "Environmentalists Push for Overhaul of Little Falls Dam". Washington Post.
- Koch, Anne (May 6, 1984). "Little Falls Dam Called "The Drowning Machine"". Washington Post.
- Peck, Garrett (2012). The Potomac River: A History and Guide. The History Press. ISBN 978-1614237877.