Little Schuylkill River (Pa-422) dam
Little Schuylkill River (Pa-422)
The Little Schuylkill River (Pa-422) is a vital water resource in Pennsylvania, managed by local government authorities and designed by the USDA NRCS. This river is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its proper management and maintenance. Situated in Rush Township, Schuylkill County, this river serves a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, with an earth dam standing at a height of 87 feet and a length of 700 feet.
Completed in 1968, the Little Schuylkill River dam has a storage capacity of 6000 acre-feet and covers a drainage area of 15.6 square miles. With a high hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, regular inspections are conducted to ensure the safety and reliability of this structure. Although no Emergency Action Plan (EAP) has been prepared yet, the dam meets guidelines and is actively managed to mitigate risks and ensure proper risk management measures are in place.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the significance of the Little Schuylkill River (Pa-422) as a key flood risk reduction infrastructure in Pennsylvania. Its strategic location and design by the Natural Resources Conservation Service highlight the importance of sustainable water management practices in safeguarding communities against potential hazards. With ongoing monitoring and maintenance, this dam continues to play a critical role in protecting the surrounding area and enhancing resilience to climate-related challenges.
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 Little Schuylkill River (Pa-422) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Schuylkill River At Tamaqua | 41 cfs | → |
| Schuylkill River At Landingville | 209 cfs | → |
| Lehigh River At Lehighton | 792 cfs | → |
| Wapwallopen Creek Near Wapwallopen | 52 cfs | → |
| Pohopoco Cr Bl Beltzville Dam Nr Parryville | 98 cfs | → |
| Aquashicola Creek At Palmerton | 63 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Schuylkill River (Pa-422).
Boat launches
- Tuscarora Lake Boat Launch
- Locust Lake Boat Launch
- Mauch Chunk Boat Launch
- Mauch Chunk Lake Boat Launch A
- Leaser Lake-(North Ramp)
- Leaser Lake-(South Ramp)
Track Little Schuylkill River (Pa-422) 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 Little Schuylkill River (Pa-422)
Where does the data for Little Schuylkill River (Pa-422) 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 Little Schuylkill River (Pa-422).