Ash Basin No 3 dam
Ash Basin No 3
Located in Shamokin Dam Borough, Pennsylvania, Ash Basin No 3 is a privately owned Earth dam completed in 1971 with a primary purpose designated as 'Other'. Standing at a height of 117 feet and stretching 970 feet in length, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 1350 acre-feet, serving as an essential water resource structure in the region. Situated on the Susquehanna River, the dam is under the regulatory oversight of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, ensuring its compliance with state guidelines for inspection and enforcement.
With a Hazard Potential rated as 'High' and a Condition Assessment of 'Fair', Ash Basin No 3 poses both risks and opportunities for water resource and climate enthusiasts. The dam's storage capacity of 1350 acre-feet and surface area of 65 acres provide vital water management capabilities for the surrounding area, while its location on the Susquehanna River underscores its significance for flood control and ecosystem preservation. As a privately owned structure, ongoing maintenance and inspection efforts are essential to ensure the dam's continued safety and functionality for the community it serves.
As an Earth dam with a Buttress core type, Ash Basin No 3 represents a key component of Pennsylvania's water infrastructure, contributing to both water supply and environmental protection efforts in the region. The dam's completion in 1971 marked a milestone in water resource management, and its continued operation underscores the importance of proactive monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential hazards. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Ash Basin No 3 serves as a case study in balancing the benefits and risks associated with essential water infrastructure in the face of changing environmental conditions and regulatory requirements.
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 Ash Basin No 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Susquehanna River At Sunbury | 15,400 cfs | → |
| West Branch Susquehanna River At Lewisburg | 7,140 cfs | → |
| Chillisquaque Creek Near Potts Grove | 47 cfs | → |
| Penns Creek At Penns Creek | 276 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Danville | 7,610 cfs | → |
| Chillisquaque Creek At Washingtonville | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ash Basin No 3.
Boat launches
- Sunbury
- Sunbury Boro
- Shady Nook
- Point Of Northumberland
- Shikellamy State Park South
- Northumberland Municipal Access
Track Ash Basin No 3 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 Ash Basin No 3
Where does the data for Ash Basin No 3 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 Ash Basin No 3.