Chapman dam
Chapman
Chapman, located in Pleasant Township, Pennsylvania, is a state-regulated recreational dam on the WEST BRANCH TIONESTA CREEK. Built in 1949, this Earth-type dam stands at 24 feet high and spans 815 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 1650 acre-feet. Despite its recreational purpose, Chapman poses a high hazard potential with a poor condition assessment, indicating the need for critical attention and maintenance.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Chapman's last inspection in September 2020 revealed its deteriorating state, highlighting the urgency for improvements to ensure public safety and environmental protection. With a drainage area of 21.4 square miles and a surface area of 67 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in flood control and water resource management for the region.
As a significant feature in the Pittsburgh District, Chapman's structural integrity and risk management measures must be closely monitored and upgraded to meet safety guidelines and prevent potential disasters. Climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates should pay attention to the ongoing maintenance efforts and regulatory actions taken to safeguard Chapman and its surrounding communities from the risks associated with its high hazard potential.
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 Chapman -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Allegheny River Bl Conewango Creek At Warren | 5,630 cfs | → |
| Brokenstraw Creek At Youngsville | 460 cfs | → |
| Allegheny River At Kinzua Dam | 3,880 cfs | → |
| Tionesta Creek At Lynch | 321 cfs | → |
| Conewango Creek At Russell | 1,740 cfs | → |
| Allegheny River At West Hickory | 7,060 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chapman.
Boat launches
- Chapman State Park
- Allegheny Outfitters Boat Launch
- Starbrick
- Buckaloons
- Sheffield Boro
- Kinzua Tailwaters
Campgrounds
- Chapman State Park
- Farnsworth Cabin
- Hearts Content Recreation Area
- Hearts Content Rec Area
- Fool's Creek
- Buckaloons Rec Area
Paddle runs
Track Chapman 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 Chapman
Where does the data for Chapman 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 Chapman.