The Deep Creek Project

The Deep Creek Project is a conventional hydroelectric development located on Deep Creek, a tributary of the Youghiogheny River in Garrett County, Maryland. The nearest city is Oakland, Maryland, located 8 miles south of the dam. The project structures include:

  • An earth and rockfill dam (1,300 feet long) across Deep Creek about 1.75 miles upstream from its confluence with the Youghiogheny River;
  • Deep Creek Lake (3,900 acres) which stores water impounded by the dam;
  • A power tunnel (over 7000 feet in total length) which conveys water from the lake to a powerhouse (438 feet lower in elevation) on the bank of the Youghiogheny River near Hoyes Run;
  • A brick powerhouse with two Francis type turbines and two generators capable of producing about 18 megawatts of electric power;
  • An excavated tailrace which directs powerhouse discharges (up to about 630 cubic feet per second) to the river.