Conowingo Dam Opens Gates As More Rain Approaches

The Conowingo Dam has three spill gates open on Saturday, Dec. 1. Operators reported the dam was functioning under spill conditions.

There were 12 gates open on Wednesday, Nov. 28, The Baltimore Sun reported.

Because of the stronger current, the Coast Guard reportedly advised boaters to be on alert for logs and other debris tthat may float down the Susquehanna River to the Chesapeake Bay.

According to Exelon, two to five flood gates could be open by 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1. The river is flowing at a rate of 131,000 cubic feet per second as of Saturday morning.

The opening of the gates comes after the rainiest November on record for Baltimore.

Annapolis Harbormaster Beth Bellis told WBAL that boaters should reduce speeds and have one person keeping an eye on conditions around the boat on the water to stay safe.

The forecast in Conowingo calls for more rain on Saturday, Dec. 1, according to the National Weather Service.

Watermen on the Eastern Shore are concerned about the pollutants coming from the dam, which they allege are putting sea life and therefore their own livelihoods in danger, according to Delmarva radio station WBOC.

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