Loch Raven Reservoir
| Loch Raven Reservoir | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | Baltimore County, Maryland |
| Coordinates | 39°27′N 76°34′W / 39.450°N 76.567°WCoordinates: 39°27′N 76°34′W / 39.450°N 76.567°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Big Gunpowder Falls river |
| Primary outflows | Big Gunpowder Falls river |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 10.7 miles (17.2 km) |
| Surface area | 3.75 sq mi (9.7 km2) |
| Water volume | 23 billion US gallons (0.087 km3) |
| References | |
The Loch Raven Reservoir is a reservoir that provides drinking water for the City of Baltimore and most of Baltimore County, Maryland. It is fed by the Big Gunpowder Falls river, and has a capacity of 23 billion US gallons (87,000,000 m3) of water.
Originally built in 1881 as a dam and water tunnel to channel water to Lake Montebello and Lake Clifton, a new dam, creating a modern large reservoir lake, was constructed in 1914 in efforts to increase the municipal water supply, submerging the cotton mill town of Warren. In 1923, the dam was elevated from 51 feet (16 m) to 117 feet (36 m), and was viewed by many as a step towards the re-vitalization of Baltimore after the Great Fire of 1904.
In addition to providing potable drinking water to Baltimore City and Baltimore County, the lake serves as a park and recreational area for the public to enjoy.
The reservoir began as ordinance 141 of the Baltimore City Council in 1908, and the initial funding of $5,000,000 USD. The dam was constructed between 1912 and 1914 and when completed its crest was 188 feet (57 m) above mean sea level, and 51 feet (16 m) from the original valley floor. The dam consisted of 50,800 cubic yards (38,800 m3) of concrete and impounded 1.5 billion US gallons (5,700,000 m3). Seven miles of new roads were constructed as well as three new bridges (Loch Raven Drive, Paper Mill Road, and Dulaney Valley Road). The only original bridge that still remains is on Warren Road. Additionally a 10-foot (3.0 m) steel pipe was built at a length of 1,623 feet (495 m) from the upper to the lower dam, which connected with the main tunnel running seven miles (11 km) to Lake Montebello in Baltimore.
The reservoir is home to historic bridges. Four bridges were built for roads to cross the reservoir. Loch Raven Drive's original bridge was built in 1906 on a dangerous road that included a hairpin turn which caused many accidents. On October 26, 1958 the bridge was subject to a UFO Case when two men in a car approached the bridge and saw an egg shaped craft floating above the bridge. Then the two men were burned alive when the odd object left. This case was soon investigated by Project Blue Book. You see this bridge has been responsible for many confusions involving UFOs. In 1988 the bridge was removed for a safer bridge. The second bridge built was in 1914 on Maryland 146. It was a large bridge similar to the Warren and Paper Mill Road Bridges and known as the Matthews Bridge. The Bridge was demolished in 1978 in favor of a more modern bridge. In 1922 On Maryland 145 another bridge would be built in place of a covered bridge that once stood there. This bridge was later replaced in 2000 by a larger bridge. The 1922 bridge was preserved for recreational use. The final bridge and only one still in use is on Maryland Route 943 better known as Warren Rd. The bridge was built in 1923 and still in use to this day.
...
Wikipedia