Pa-486 dam
Pa-486
Pa-486, also known as Harmon Creek, is a local government-owned earth dam located in Washington County, Pennsylvania. It was designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1979 with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Paris Run river. With a height of 86 feet and a length of 440 feet, Pa-486 has a storage capacity of 750 acre-feet, serving as a crucial structure in managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pa-486 is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam is classified as having a high hazard potential, but its condition assessment is currently rated as satisfactory. This dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from flooding events and demonstrates the collaborative efforts between federal and state agencies in safeguarding water resources and communities from the impacts of climate change.
With its significant storage capacity, Pa-486 serves as a key infrastructure for managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region. The dam's satisfactory condition assessment, regular inspections, and regulatory oversight by state agencies highlight the importance of proactive measures in addressing climate-related challenges. As a local government-owned structure, Pa-486 exemplifies the critical role that dams play in protecting communities and enhancing resilience to the impacts of extreme weather events in Pennsylvania.
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 Pa-486 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kings Creek At Weirton | 21 cfs | → |
| Yellow Creek Near Hammondsville Oh | 92 cfs | → |
| Short Creek Near Dillonvale Oh | 87 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Creek At Moffatts Mill | 77 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Sewickley | 23,400 cfs | → |
| Little Beaver Creek Near East Liverpool Oh | 474 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pa-486.
Boat launches
- Newburg Landing
- Raccoon State Park
- Dutch Fork Lake (West Side)
- Jim Kenney Park
- Ohioville Borough
- Leetsdale
Campgrounds
- Raccoon Creek State Park
- Tomlinson Run State Park
- Montour Trail - Boggs Trailhead Campsite
- Jefferson Lake State Park
- Beaver Creek State Park
Track Pa-486 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 Pa-486
Where does the data for Pa-486 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 Pa-486.