Orchard Park Meadows Retention Bas dam
Orchard Park Meadows Retention Bas
Orchard Park Meadows Retention Basin, located in Richland Township, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, serves as a critical flood risk reduction structure along the TR West Branch Deer Creek. Constructed in 1989, this private earth dam stands at a height of 21 feet and spans 140 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 13.3 acre-feet. Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, the dam is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
With a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, Orchard Park Meadows Retention Basin plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential inundation events. This retention basin is a buttress-type structure designed to manage stormwater runoff and prevent flooding in the region. Although it has not undergone any significant modifications in recent years, the dam continues to fulfill its intended function and is equipped to handle emergency situations, as evidenced by its high hazard potential rating.
Maintaining a close connection with the local community, Orchard Park Meadows Retention Basin is a key asset in the flood risk management strategy for the area. As part of a network of water resource infrastructure, this dam contributes to the overall resilience of the region against extreme weather events and ensures the safety of residents and properties in the vicinity. With ongoing regulatory oversight and a commitment to regular inspections, this retention basin stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate adaptation efforts 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 Orchard Park Meadows Retention Bas -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Pine Creek Near Etna | 3 cfs | → |
| Allegheny River At Natrona | 16,400 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Near Freeport | 323 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Sewickley | 23,400 cfs | → |
| Chartiers Creek At Carnegie | 147 cfs | → |
| Kiskiminetas River At Vandergrift | 1,650 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Orchard Park Meadows Retention Bas.
Boat launches
- North Park Boat Launch
- Glade Run Access
- Deer Creek
- Oakmont Public Access
- Sharpsburg Island Marina
- Tarentum
Campgrounds
- Harts Content Campground
- Crooked Creek Recreation Area
- Montour Trail - Boggs Trailhead Campsite
- Burnt Ridge Campground
- Raccoon Creek State Park
- Bush
Paddle runs
Track Orchard Park Meadows Retention Bas 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 Orchard Park Meadows Retention Bas
Where does the data for Orchard Park Meadows Retention Bas 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 Orchard Park Meadows Retention Bas.