Raystown Dam - Hesston Dike dam
Raystown Dam - Hesston Dike
Raystown Dam - Hesston Dike, located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, is a crucial structure managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reduce flood risk in the area. Completed in 1973, the earth dam stands 15 feet tall and spans 177 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 871,000 acre-feet. The reservoir created by the dam, known as Raystown Lake, serves primarily for flood risk reduction along the Raystown Branch Juniata River.
While the Hesston Dike plays a vital role in mitigating the risk of flooding to downstream communities, there are potential scenarios, albeit unlikely, that could lead to a breach and subsequent flooding. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers implements regular maintenance, inspections, and monitoring of the dike to ensure its integrity. In the event of a breach, an uncontrolled surge of water could pose a threat to communities downstream, particularly those along Crooked Creek. The Corps actively manages risk and updates emergency response plans to address any potential flood events affecting the dike, highlighting the importance of ongoing vigilance and preparedness in safeguarding against natural disasters.
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 Raystown Dam - Hesston Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Frankstown Br Juniata River At Williamsburg | 248 cfs | → |
| Rays Br Juniata R Bl Rays Dam Nr Huntingdon | 1,430 cfs | → |
| Juniata River At Huntingdon | 657 cfs | → |
| Juniata River At Mapleton Depot | 2,180 cfs | → |
| Little Juniata River At Spruce Creek | 185 cfs | → |
| Raystown Branch Juniata River At Saxton | 425 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Raystown Dam - Hesston Dike.
Boat launches
- Aitch
- Tatman Run Boat Launch
- Corbin's Island
- Smithfield Riverside Park
- Point Access
- Beaver Dam Road Frankstown Township
Campgrounds
- Seven Points
- Susquehannock - Raystown Lake
- Trough Creek State Park
- Canoe Creek State Park
- Camp Blue Diamond
- Blue Knob State Park
Track Raystown Dam - Hesston Dike 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 Raystown Dam - Hesston Dike
Where does the data for Raystown Dam - Hesston Dike 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 Raystown Dam - Hesston Dike.