Flood Information

Flooded Park Area

Important Flood Information

The following flood hazard information is being made available to the residents of the City of Frederick because 11% of Frederick is located in or near a 100-year floodplain. It is hoped that everyone will become familiar with the possible hazards associated with these floodplain areas and use the suggested actions to protect yourself, your family, your property, and your investment.

Flood Hazard Areas

The largest flood that has occurred in the City of Frederick was caused by Tropical Storm Agnes on June 23, 1972, which reached an elevation of 35.90 feet at the river gauge on Monocacy Blvd. Bridge. The flood stage for the Monocacy River at that point is 15 feet at which water will leave the bank edge and backwater will flow to the Carroll Creek.

Prior to the construction of the flood control project, the City of Frederick often experienced severe flooding due to Carroll Creek. The most severe flood (in terms of damage to the city) occurred on October 7, 1976 as isolated storms dumped 7.2 inches of rain on the city in less than 16 hours.

Natural & Beneficial Functions

The City of Frederick is a beautiful place to live, and the small areas located within or near a floodplain are important assets. The undisturbed buffers and open parks provide a wide range of benefits to the human and natural systems. Water quality is improved through the undisturbed vegetations ability to filter nutrients and impurities from runoff and process organic wastes.

These areas provide breeding and feeding grounds for fish and wildlife, create and enhance waterfowl habitat, support a high rate of plant growth and maintain biodiversity and the integrity of the ecosystem. Floodplains provide green space for protection of streams from development and the forces of erosion.

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