Lower (Pa-487a) dam
Lower (Pa-487a)
Lower (Pa-487a) is a state-owned earth dam located in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, specifically in East Fallowfield Township. Built in 1973, the dam stands at a height of 20 feet and spans 1700 feet in length, serving primarily for flood risk reduction along Crooked Creek. With a storage capacity of 7810 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Lower (Pa-487a) is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently in fair condition as of the last inspection in June 2020. While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan in place at this time, its maintenance and monitoring are carried out to meet state guidelines and ensure its effectiveness in flood risk reduction.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lower (Pa-487a) represents a vital piece of infrastructure in Pennsylvania's efforts to manage flood risks and protect communities along Crooked Creek. With its strategic location and significant storage capacity, the dam serves as a key asset in safeguarding the area from potential inundation events. As climate change continues to impact weather patterns and increase the frequency of extreme events, the importance of well-maintained dams like Lower (Pa-487a) in mitigating flood risks and ensuring water resource sustainability cannot be overstated.
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 Lower (Pa-487a) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shenango River At Pymatuning Dam | 201 cfs | → |
| Little Shenango River At Greenville | 116 cfs | → |
| Shenango River Near Transfer | 438 cfs | → |
| French Creek At Meadville | 1,310 cfs | → |
| Woodcock Creek At Woodcock Creek Dam | 66 cfs | → |
| Shenango River At Sharpsville | 480 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower (Pa-487a).
Track Lower (Pa-487a) 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 Lower (Pa-487a)
Where does the data for Lower (Pa-487a) 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 Lower (Pa-487a).