Mahoning Creek Dam dam
Mahoning Creek Dam
Mahoning Creek Dam, also known as Mahoning Creek Lake, is a gravity type dam located in Putneyville, Pennsylvania. Built in 1941 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam serves a primary purpose of flood risk reduction while also providing benefits for fish and wildlife, recreation, and water storage. With a structural height of 162 feet and a length of 926 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 94,000 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 280 acres.
The dam's spillway width of 150 feet and controlled spillway type help manage water levels during high flow events, with a maximum discharge capacity of 103,000 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is regularly inspected and monitored to ensure its structural integrity and reduce flood risks. The US Army Corps of Engineers implements risk management measures, including emergency action plans, regular maintenance, and public outreach, to address potential dam-related emergencies and enhance community preparedness.
As a critical infrastructure for flood mitigation in the region, Mahoning Creek Dam plays a vital role in protecting surrounding communities from potential flooding events. The dam's risk management strategies and ongoing maintenance efforts demonstrate a commitment to ensuring the safety and resilience of the dam and the surrounding area in the face of changing climate patterns and extreme weather events.
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 Mahoning Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mahoning Creek At Mahoning Creek Dam | 371 cfs | → |
| Redbank Creek At St. Charles | 530 cfs | → |
| Little Mahoning Creek At Mccormick | 263 cfs | → |
| Mahoning Creek At Punxsutawney | 165 cfs | → |
| Allegheny River At Kittanning | 15,300 cfs | → |
| Crooked Creek At Crooked Creek Dam | 159 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mahoning Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Milton Loop
- Templeton
- Bellalou Road 175, Armstrong County
- Atwood
- Pa 210 Atwood
- Spot Road Armstrong County
Campgrounds
- Milton Loop
- Redbank Valley Municipal Park
- Burnt Ridge Campground
- Crooked Creek Recreation Area
- Clear Creek State Park
- Cook Forest State Park
Paddle runs
Track Mahoning Creek 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 Mahoning Creek Dam
Where does the data for Mahoning Creek 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 Mahoning Creek Dam.