West Whiteland Business Park dam
West Whiteland Business Park
West Whiteland Business Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, is a privately owned and state-regulated flood risk reduction structure located in West Whiteland Township. The dam, primarily made of earth with a buttress core, stands at a height of 12 feet and spans a length of 400 feet along the TR Valley Creek. Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment, the dam has a storage capacity of 10 acre-feet and serves the crucial purpose of mitigating flood risks in the area.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the West Whiteland Business Park dam has undergone inspections every two years, with the most recent one conducted in March 2019. The structure requires attention due to its deteriorating condition and the potential for significant hazards if not properly maintained. With its important role in flood risk reduction for the surrounding area, ensuring the dam's integrity and functionality is vital for protecting both the environment and local businesses in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the importance of structures like the West Whiteland Business Park dam is crucial in safeguarding communities from the impacts of flooding and preserving water resources. With its location along a tributary of the TR Valley Creek, this dam plays a critical role in managing water flow and reducing flood risks, highlighting the need for ongoing maintenance and regulatory oversight to ensure its effectiveness 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 West Whiteland Business Park -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Branch Brandywine Creek Near Downingtown | 32 cfs | → |
| East Branch Brandywine Creek Below Downingtown | 49 cfs | → |
| Marsh Creek Near Downingtown | 4 cfs | → |
| Broad Run At Northbrook | 25 cfs | → |
| Valley Creek At Pa Turnpike Br Near Valley Forge | 17 cfs | → |
| French Creek Near Phoenixville | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Whiteland Business Park.
Boat launches
- West Side-Lyndell
- Phoenixville
- Spring City
- Betzwood
- Arcola Rd 3506, Lower Providence Township
- Limerick Township
Campgrounds
- Harmony Hill Wilderness Area Campsite
- Camp Laughing Waters
- William Penn State Forest Designated Campsite
- Tinicum Island Primitive Campsite
- Camp Green Lane
- Camp Sumney
Fishing spots
Track West Whiteland Business Park 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 West Whiteland Business Park
Where does the data for West Whiteland Business Park 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 West Whiteland Business Park.