Curwensville Dam dam
Curwensville Dam
Curwensville Dam, also known as Curwensville Lake, is a Federal-owned rockfill dam located on the West Branch Susquehanna River in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. Completed in 1965, the dam stands at 131 feet in height and has a storage capacity of 209,000 acre-feet. While the primary purpose of the dam is flood risk reduction, it also serves other functions such as recreation and water supply.
Despite its role in reducing the risk of flooding to downstream communities, Curwensville Dam still poses a high hazard potential due to the possibility of a breach during extreme weather events. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is responsible for the maintenance, inspections, and risk management measures for the dam, including regular updates to the Emergency Action Plan and coordination with emergency managers for response exercises. In the event of a breach, downstream communities like Curwensville, Clearfield, and Plymptonville could face swift and deep floodwaters, resulting in significant property damage and potential loss of life.
USACE closely monitors rainfall forecasts to anticipate high water events and provide timely flood warnings to at-risk areas. While the dam plays a crucial role in flood protection, the potential for catastrophic flooding remains, emphasizing the importance of ongoing risk management and preparedness efforts. The collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies ensures a coordinated response to any emergency situations that may arise, safeguarding the safety and well-being of the surrounding communities.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Curwensville Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wb Susquehanna River Near Curwensville | 253 cfs | → |
| West Branch Susquehanna River At Hyde | 389 cfs | → |
| Clearfield Creek At Dimeling | 282 cfs | → |
| West Branch Susquehanna River At Bower | 273 cfs | → |
| Bald Eagle Creek At Tyrone | 25 cfs | → |
| Wb Susquehanna River At Karthaus | 1,380 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Curwensville Dam.
Boat launches
- Lower Witmer Park Borough Access
- Shawville Grocery
- Deer Creek
- Treasure Lake Road 16311, Sandy Township
- Beaver Dam
- Beaver Valley
Campgrounds
- Curwensville Lake
- S.B. Elliott State Park
- Parker Dam State Park
- Boy Scount Camp
- Prince Gallitzin State Park
- Black Moshannon State Park
Paddle runs
Track Curwensville Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Curwensville Dam
Where does the data for Curwensville Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Curwensville Dam.