State officials have ordered Lake Needwood drained in order to repair an earthen dam that began leaking during last week’s torrential rains, forcing the evacuations of thousands of Rockville residents.
The Maryland Department of the Environment’s Dam Safety Division, which has regulatory authority over the dam, declared the dam unsafe Wednesday and ordered corrective actions even though it no longer is leaking, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission spokeswoman Marion Joyce said Thursday.
It is unclear what kind of “corrective actions” the commission must take. The water level at the 75-acre lake has dropped to less than 4 feet above normal, Joyce said. People should expect the lake level to be lowered for “several months,” she said.
Joyce said that initial news reports that the lake would be drained dry were false. The lake will be drained to what officials decide is a “safe level,” Joyce said.
Montgomery County Parks Director Mary Bradford said in a statement that residents “are in no immediate danger.”
“There are currently no indications that the dam poses an immediate threat,” Bradford said. “Any risks that exist are significantly reduced as we continue to lower water levels and lessen pressure on the dam.”
Lake Needwood is a man-made lake along Rock Creek in Rockville. Water in the lake rose about 23 feet above normal following about 10 inches of rain that dumped on parts of Montgomery County. As many as 2,200 residents that live in the flood plain of the lake were evacuated at about 3 a.m. June 28. Residents were allowed to return home about 40 hours later.
Parts of Lake Needwood’s parks facilities remained closed or had restricted access this week as officials assessed damages.
Officials warned to expect impacts on fish and wildlife. Officials are developing a plan to temporarily move fish to a different location, Joyce said.
Gov. Robert Ehrlich had asked President Bush and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to declare parts of the state, including Montgomery County, federal disasters last week in order to receive federal assistance.
Maryland Emergency Management officials were still waiting to hear on whether such a declaration would be made for Montgomery County. Dorchester and Caroline counties, on the Eastern Shore, received federal disaster declarations Sunday.
The county has not determined any damage estimates, said spokeswoman Esther Bowring.
