Nockamixon dam
Nockamixon
Nockamixon, located in Bucks, Pennsylvania, is a state-regulated rockfill dam on the Tohickon Creek, with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1973, this dam stands at a height of 112 feet and has a length of 1511 feet, providing a storage capacity of 71,000 acre-feet of water. With a surface area of 1450 acres and a drainage area of 73.3 square miles, Nockamixon offers both flood risk reduction and recreational opportunities for visitors.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Nockamixon has a fair condition assessment and a high hazard potential. The dam undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in July 2020. While the dam meets state regulatory standards and has emergency action plans in place, its risk assessment and management measures are currently unspecified. Despite its high hazard potential, Nockamixon continues to provide valuable water resources for the surrounding community while offering a picturesque setting for outdoor activities.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate Nockamixon for its vital role in flood control and recreation in the region. With its strategic location in Nockamixon Township and proximity to the Tohickon Creek, this rockfill dam serves as a key infrastructure for water management in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The dam's storage capacity, surface area, and drainage area highlight its significance in regulating water flow and providing a recreational oasis for visitors to enjoy.
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 Nockamixon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tohickon Creek Near Pipersville | 23 cfs | → |
| East Branch Perkiomen Creek Near Dublin | 14 cfs | → |
| Nb Neshaminy Cr Bl Lake Galena Nr New Britain | 70 cfs | → |
| Nb Neshaminy Creek At Chalfont | 21 cfs | → |
| Lehigh River At Bethlehem | 1,430 cfs | → |
| Lehigh River At Glendon | 1,460 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nockamixon.
Track Nockamixon 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 Nockamixon
Where does the data for Nockamixon 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 Nockamixon.