Pole Run No 4 dam
Pole Run No 4
Pole Run No 4 is a significant structure located in Mahanoy Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, managed by the local government for water supply purposes. Built in 1877, this earth dam stands at a height of 41.5 feet, with a storage capacity of 192 acre-feet. The dam overlooks the Pole Run river and has a drainage area of 0.58 square miles, serving as a vital resource for the surrounding community.
Despite its age, Pole Run No 4 has undergone modifications in 2004 and 2009 to ensure its continued functionality and safety. The dam has a high hazard potential but is currently assessed as being in satisfactory condition. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last one taking place in November 2020, to monitor its structural integrity and address any potential risks. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection oversees the regulatory aspects of the dam, including permitting, inspection, and enforcement, ensuring compliance with state guidelines.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Pole Run No 4 represents a historical and essential infrastructure that plays a crucial role in providing water supply to the local community. Its presence highlights the importance of proper dam management and maintenance to ensure the safety and sustainability of water resources in the region. As climate change continues to impact water availability and distribution, structures like Pole Run No 4 serve as vital assets in managing and conserving this precious resource for future generations.
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 Pole Run No 4 -- 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 | → |
| Wapwallopen Creek Near Wapwallopen | 52 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Bloomsburg | 10,200 cfs | → |
| Lehigh River At Lehighton | 792 cfs | → |
| Fishing Creek Near Bloomsburg | 356 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pole Run No 4.
Boat launches
- Locust Lake Boat Launch
- Tuscarora Lake Boat Launch
- Pottsville
- Mauch Chunk Boat Launch
- Test Track Park
- Auburn Dam
Track Pole Run 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 Pole Run No 4
Where does the data for Pole Run 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 Pole Run No 4.