Hills Creek dam
Hills Creek
Hills Creek, located in Charleston Township, Pennsylvania, is a state-regulated earth dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1951, the dam stands at a height of 32 feet and has a length of 587 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 1297 acre-feet. With a surface area of 128 acres and a drainage area of 3.7 square miles, Hills Creek provides a picturesque setting for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Hills Creek Dam has a hazard potential classified as high, although its condition assessment is deemed satisfactory. Regular inspections ensure its safety and functionality, with the most recent inspection conducted in September 2020. While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared or updated, it remains a key recreational resource in the region, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts who appreciate its scenic beauty and opportunities for outdoor recreation. As a vital part of the local landscape, Hills Creek serves as a reminder of the importance of proper dam management in safeguarding both natural resources and public safety.
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 Hills Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Crooked Cr Bl Catlin Hollow At Middlebury Center | 163 cfs | → |
| Tioga River Near Mansfield | 349 cfs | → |
| Tioga River At Tioga | 2,050 cfs | → |
| Corey Creek Near Mainesburg | 15 cfs | → |
| Straight Run | 1 cfs | → |
| Tioga River At Tioga Junction | 1,930 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hills Creek.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Hills Creek State Park
- Ives Run
- Tompkins River
- Leonard Harrison State Park
- Twin Streams Campground
- Colton Point State Park
Track Hills Creek 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 Hills Creek
Where does the data for Hills Creek 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 Hills Creek.