Minersville No 4 dam
Minersville No 4
Minersville No 4 is a rockfill dam located in Cass Township, Pennsylvania, completed in 1912 for the primary purpose of water supply. The dam has a height of 36 feet and a length of 775 feet, with a storage capacity of 481 acre-feet. However, recent inspections have revealed a poor condition assessment and a high hazard potential, making it a cause for concern among water resource and climate enthusiasts.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Minersville No 4 is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities. Despite its historical significance and critical role in supplying water to the surrounding area, the dam's deteriorating condition poses a potential risk to downstream communities in the event of a failure. With a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, efforts may need to be made to improve the dam's safety and resilience to changing climate conditions.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the maintenance and upkeep of dams like Minersville No 4 will be crucial in ensuring the safety and security of water supplies for local communities. With proper risk assessment and management measures, coupled with regular inspections and maintenance, Minersville No 4 can continue to serve its intended purpose while mitigating potential hazards associated with its deteriorating condition.
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 Minersville No 4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Schuylkill River At Landingville | 209 cfs | → |
| Swatara Creek Near Pine Grove | 115 cfs | → |
| Little Schuylkill River At Tamaqua | 41 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Bloomsburg | 10,200 cfs | → |
| Schuylkill River At Berne | 409 cfs | → |
| Swatara Creek Near Inwood | 143 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Minersville No 4.
Boat launches
- Pottsville
- Locust Lake Boat Launch
- Auburn Dam
- Sweet Arrow Lake
- Schuylkill River Trail West Brunswick Township
- Tuscarora Lake Boat Launch
Track Minersville No 4 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 Minersville No 4
Where does the data for Minersville No 4 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 Minersville No 4.