This is one of ten caches placed for the 2011 Cache Across Maryland. Each location was picked specifically to give you a taste of the state and show you just a part of its beauty. By combining all ten, you'll be able to see why Maryland is truly "America in Miniature". We hope you enjoy them!
Liberty Dam, Liberty Reservoir, and Liberty Watershed - Information and History
Construction of Liberty Dam began in 1951 and was completed in 1954. This dam blocked the North Branch of the Patapsco River and flooded the valley that it ran through. With few modifications, to the natural landscape, this created a reservoir that covers nearly 164 square miles and can hold up to 43 billion gallons of water.
Liberty Reservoir (or Liberty Lake) is the newest of the three massive reservoirs owned by Baltimore City. It is actually larger than the other two (Loch Raven and Pretty Boy) reservoirs combined. Together, these three lakes provide fresh drinking water for about 1.8 million people and have made the large populations in Baltimore City, Western Baltimore County, and Carroll County possible.
But progress comes with a cost. In order to make way for the project, Baltimore City purchased all of the buildings and property in the small town of Oakland Mills. This included paying almost 1.5 million dollars to buy the Melville Woolen Factory. Accounting for inflation, this is still one of the most expensive public works projects ever undertaken by the city of Baltimore.
As work on the dam progressed, the mill was dynamited, but much of the foundation and stone structure remained. The houses were demolished and the roads torn up. Slowly the town of Oakland Mills ceased to exist. Many of the residents moved to the nearby town of Shervettes Corner, which you may be able to see across the lake on your walk to the cache site. Others moved further away into the communities of Eldersburg, Sykesville, and Reisterstown. But the memory of little Oakland Mills still remains.
The dam began holding back water in late 1952 and water reached the ruins of the mill by 1954. It took another 2 years for the water to completely fill the basin and it topped the dam for the first time in 1956. This not only marked the beginning of the full operation of the reservoir, it also marked the ultimate end for the town of Oakland Mills now buried under billions of gallons of water.
Even though the town is gone there is still evidence of its existence. If you walk the trails around the reservoir, especially near the dam, you will see the oddities that remain when a town is flooded. Long unused roads that dead end directly into the water. Some of the very natural looking hiking trails will suddenly become asphalt for short distance. Stone walls that run into the water, ruined foundations just under the water’s surface, and bridge foundations that seemingly lead to nowhere. During severe droughts you can even still see the remnants of the old mill.
Not all is lost though. With the creation of the lake, it provided thousands of acres of land for recreational activities. The watershed provides miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The 81 miles of shore line and the lake itself provide excellent opportunities for fishing and boating. The area directly below the dam provides clean, cold, water year round and is an excellent spot for brown trout fishing.
The watershed also provides some outstanding locations for placing geocaches. On the watershed property you can find more than 50 caches of all types. Many provide outstanding hikes that will deliver you to some fascinating locations.
Parking Information:(Important!)
The location of this cache will bring you to the access road for the dam. The suggested parking will have you in the public lot at the top of Liberty Dam Road. This is the closest approach to the cache. Since there is no parking along the road, your only other option (if the gate is open) is to drive to the far end and park at the dam. Please note…if you choose this option you will more than double distance you need to hike and you run the risk of the gate being locked when you return. While the sign says that the gate will close at 4pm, in reality, it closes when the State Police are finished with their facility for the day. So do not rely on the sign or that they will warn you before they lock the gate.
Cache Information:
The walk to the cache location will be along Liberty Dam Road and will provide you with several views of the southern end of the lake. As you ascend to ground zero, take a look out over the water to the Route 26 bridge in the distance. To the left of that bridge is a small peninsula of land. As you gaze over the water to that location, you will be looking over the remains of Oakland Mills. The factory lies back on the other side of the bridge. Can you still hear the factory whistle blowing to signify the start of the day? As you approach the cache location you may also see the stone tower that marks the intake station for the reservoir. This reservoir is unique in this area as it is a completely gravity fed system. The water enters the intake pipe and flows the 15 miles to the Ashburton water treatment facility without the use of pumps. This was one of the primary reasons this location was selected.
Finally, don't be alarmed if you hear what sounds like a small war going on. Just up Liberty Dam Road is one of the primary gun ranges for the Maryland State Police. Depending on the day, it can range from completely quiet and serene to something rivaling the shoot out at the OK corral! Nothing to fear though as long as you don't park illegally along Liberty Dam Road!
Enjoy the hike. Keep an eye out for local wildlife including deer, fox, raccoon, beaver, hawks, eagles, rabbit and owls. You will pass some noisy little creeks on your way to the cache. Feel free to stop and enjoy some of the sights and sounds.