Gravel Lick dam
Gravel Lick
Gravel Lick is a privately owned earth dam located in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, along the Gravel Lick Run. Built in 1974, this dam stands at a height of 75 feet and spans a length of 1800 feet, providing both recreational opportunities and water storage capabilities. With a normal storage capacity of 5500 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 7800 acre-feet, Gravel Lick plays a crucial role in the local water resource management.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Gravel Lick is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last one taking place in August 2020, to monitor any potential risks and address them promptly. While an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is yet to be prepared, the dam continues to serve its intended purpose effectively.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Gravel Lick offers an intriguing case study in dam management and safety. With its location in the Sandy Township and under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, this earth dam provides not only recreational opportunities but also plays a significant role in water storage and management in the region. As efforts to ensure its safety and reliability continue, Gravel Lick stands as a testament to the importance of proactive dam maintenance and regulation in mitigating potential risks and ensuring the resilience of water infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Gravel Lick -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wb Susquehanna River Near Curwensville | 303 cfs | → |
| West Branch Susquehanna River At Hyde | 473 cfs | → |
| West Branch Susquehanna River At Bower | 285 cfs | → |
| Redbank Creek At Brookville | 374 cfs | → |
| Clearfield Creek At Dimeling | 275 cfs | → |
| Clarion River At Ridgway | 632 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gravel Lick.
Boat launches
- Treasure Lake Road 16311, Sandy Township
- Treasure Lake Road 15351, Sandy Township
- Kyle Lake
- Little Toby Creek
- Lower Witmer Park Borough Access
- Cloe
Campgrounds
- Boy Scount Camp
- S.B. Elliott State Park
- Parker Dam State Park
- Curwensville Lake
- Clear Creek State Park
- Clarion River Campsites
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Gravel Lick 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 Gravel Lick
Where does the data for Gravel Lick 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 Gravel Lick.