Laroche College Detention Basin #1 dam
Laroche College Detention Basin #1
Located in McCandless Township, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Laroche College Detention Basin #1 stands as a vital flood risk reduction structure along the TR Little Pine Creek. Completed in 1988, this earth dam spans 270 feet in length and rises to a height of 18 feet, offering storage capacity of 12 acre-feet. Owned and regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, this detention basin plays a crucial role in mitigating potential flooding in the area.
With a hazard potential deemed significant and a satisfactory condition assessment, Laroche College Detention Basin #1 undergoes regular inspections every two years to ensure its structural integrity and operational efficacy. Although the exact design specifics like spillway type and width remain unspecified, the basin serves as a key component in the state's flood risk reduction efforts. As a local government-owned structure, it exemplifies the collaborative efforts needed to address water resource management and climate resilience challenges.
Representing a commitment to environmental protection and community safety, Laroche College Detention Basin #1 stands as a testament to the importance of proactive flood mitigation measures. As climate change continues to impact weather patterns and increase the frequency of extreme events, structures like these play a crucial role in safeguarding communities and infrastructure from the devastating effects of flooding. The basin's strategic location, design, and regulation underscore its significance in ensuring the resilience and sustainability of the surrounding area in the face of changing environmental 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 Laroche College Detention Basin #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Pine Creek Near Etna | 3 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Sewickley | 23,400 cfs | → |
| Chartiers Creek At Carnegie | 147 cfs | → |
| Allegheny River At Natrona | 16,400 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Creek At Moffatts Mill | 77 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Near Freeport | 323 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Laroche College Detention Basin #1.
Boat launches
- North Park Boat Launch
- Kilbuck Access
- B &Amp; L Marina
- Westhall Street
- Sharpsburg Island Marina
- Lawrenceville/40th Street Bridge
Track Laroche College Detention Basin #1 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 Laroche College Detention Basin #1
Where does the data for Laroche College Detention Basin #1 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 Significant 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 Laroche College Detention Basin #1.