Lake Heritage dam
Lake Heritage
Lake Heritage in Mount Joy Township, Pennsylvania, is a private recreational lake that was completed in 1966. With a dam height of 53 feet and a length of 1420 feet, the lake has a storage capacity of 2966 acre-feet and a normal storage of 2578 acre-feet. The surface area of the lake is 146 acres, with a drainage area of 3.94 square miles, and it is fed by Plum Run.
Despite its picturesque setting, Lake Heritage has a high hazard potential and is currently rated in poor condition. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulates the dam, which undergoes regular inspections. The spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 205 feet. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, with a DSAC assigned date yet to be determined.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Lake Heritage an interesting case study for understanding the management and maintenance of recreational lakes in Pennsylvania. With its historical significance and environmental impact, Lake Heritage serves as a focal point for discussions on dam safety, risk management, and regulatory oversight in the context of water resource management.
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 Lake Heritage -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Monocacy River At Bridgeport | 25 cfs | → |
| Bermudian Creek At Oxford Road Nr Heidlersburg | 4 cfs | → |
| Big Pipe Creek At Bruceville | 24 cfs | → |
| West Conewago Creek At East Berlin | 50 cfs | → |
| Mountain Creek Near Pine Grove Furnace | 9 cfs | → |
| Cranberry Branch Near Westminster | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Heritage.
Boat launches
- Long Arm Dam, Lawrence B. Sheppard Reservoir
- Black Rock Flats Boat Launch
- Codorus State Park Wonder Cove
- Codorus State Park Smith Station Road
- Codorus State Park Hidden Cove
- Codorus State Park Mooring Cove
Campgrounds
- Camp Conewago - Boy Scouts Of America
- Caledonia State Park
- Pine Grove Furnace State Park
- Primitive Campsite #5
- Capital Camps & Retreat Center
- Primitive Campsite #7
Track Lake Heritage 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 Lake Heritage
Where does the data for Lake Heritage 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 Lake Heritage.