Rocky Gorge Reservoir is located at the intersection of Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County on the Patuxent River.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) was founded in 1918 to address the growing public health concerns across Howard and Montgomery counties regarding municipal drinking water and sewage systems. By 1943 Brighton Dam was built along with a water filtration facility, forming Tridelphia Reservoir.
To add additional capacity to the facility, T. Howard Duckett, a Prince George’s County attorney and member of WSSC, led the construction of a new dam. Completed in 1952, the T. Howard Duckett Dam formed Rocky Gorge Reservoir, also referred to as the T. Howard Duckett Reservoir.
Although it boasts a relatively small capacity of 5.5 billion gallons, Rocky Gorge covers an area with many great fishing coves and a very intricate shoreline. It also has a fluctuating topography with lot of tree stumps, downed trees, and rocks. This makes it a great habitat for largemouth and smallmouth bass. It is also plentiful with blue catfish and sunfish, which makes it great for all types of fishing techniques. With calm, shallow waters and an abundance of wildlife, this reservoir is also popular for kayakers and canoers.
There are two boat ramps on either end, one off of Harding Road near Scotts Cove, and the other off of Brown’s Bridge Road. Any access to the watershed, including fishing, hiking, or boating, requires a WSSC Watershed Use Permit. This permit is available either online at www.WSSCwater.com or at the Brighton Dam Visitors Center. Please note that boats used in Liberty, Loch Raven, or Prettyboy cannot be used in Rocky Gorge and vice-versa.
There are several hiking trails with shoreline fishing access available. However, be prepared for a workout if you want to go for a long hike up and down the steep terrain. Hey, it’s called “Rocky Gorge” for a reason!
Useful Links:
Bathymetric Data from the Maryland Geological Society (5.06 MB)
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) Watershed Regulations