Timber dam
Timber
Timber is a privately owned dam located in Chester, Pennsylvania, with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Built in 1986, this earth dam stands at 19 feet tall and extends for 410 feet, providing a storage capacity of 38 acre-feet. The dam serves to control the flow of TR Culbertson Run, contributing to the protection of the surrounding area from potential flooding events. Despite its significant hazard potential, Timber has been assessed as being in satisfactory condition, with inspections conducted every two years to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Timber is subject to state regulation and permitting, with regular inspections and enforcement practices in place to uphold safety standards. The dam also offers recreational opportunities in addition to its flood risk reduction function, highlighting its multi-faceted role in the community. With its location in East Brandywine Township and proximity to the Baltimore District, Timber plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region. As a pivotal structure in the area's water infrastructure, Timber serves as a testament to the importance of effective dam management in safeguarding communities and ecosystems from the impacts of flooding.
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 Timber -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Marsh Creek Near Downingtown | 5 cfs | → |
| East Branch Brandywine Creek Near Downingtown | 34 cfs | → |
| Marsh Creek Near Glenmoore | 3 cfs | → |
| Birch Run Near Wagontown | 2 cfs | → |
| West Branch Brandywine Creek Near Honey Brook | 6 cfs | → |
| West Branch Brandywine Creek At Coatesville | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Timber.
Boat launches
- West Side-Lyndell
- Chambers Lake
- Struble Lake
- Hopewell Lake-French Creek State Park
- Scott's Run Lake-French Creek State Park
- Tow Path Park
Campgrounds
- Harmony Hill Wilderness Area Campsite
- William Penn State Forest Designated Campsite
- Red Run Campground
- Mill Bridge Village Camp Resort
- Camp Laughing Waters
- Lazy K Campground
Fishing spots
Track Timber 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 Timber
Where does the data for Timber 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 Timber.