Sonneborn (Witco) Reservoir dam
Sonneborn (Witco) Reservoir
Sonneborn (Witco) Reservoir, located in Fairview Township, Pennsylvania, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1951 for the primary purpose of grade stabilization. With a dam height of 23 feet and a length of 280 feet, the reservoir has a storage capacity of 55 acre-feet and a surface area of 3.4 acres. It is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
Despite its important role in grade stabilization, Sonneborn (Witco) Reservoir poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment. The reservoir's last inspection in September 2020 revealed a need for maintenance and possible repairs to address safety concerns. It is crucial for the private owners to prioritize the upkeep of the dam to mitigate risks and ensure the safety of the surrounding community.
As a significant water resource in Butler County, Pennsylvania, Sonneborn (Witco) Reservoir plays a vital role in managing the flow of the South Branch Bear Creek. With its proximity to residential areas, it is essential for the owners to have an emergency action plan in place and to regularly update and review it to meet safety guidelines and minimize potential risks associated with the reservoir's high hazard potential.
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 Sonneborn (Witco) Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Allegheny River At Parker | 12,700 cfs | → |
| Allegheny River At Kittanning | 15,300 cfs | → |
| Redbank Creek At St. Charles | 530 cfs | → |
| Clarion River Near Piney | 1,330 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Near Freeport | 323 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek Near Portersville | 69 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sonneborn (Witco) Reservoir.
Boat launches
- West Monterey Road Clarion County
- Heck Dr 102, Armstrong County
- 2nd Street East Brady
- Brady's Bend
- Parker City
- Armstrong Trail Clarion County
Campgrounds
- Burnt Ridge Campground
- Copperhead Retreat
- Danner Campground
- Kamp Kennerdell
- Redbank Valley Municipal Park
- Crooked Creek Recreation Area
Paddle runs
Track Sonneborn (Witco) Reservoir 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 Sonneborn (Witco) Reservoir
Where does the data for Sonneborn (Witco) Reservoir 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 Sonneborn (Witco) Reservoir.