Egelman Reservoir dam
Egelman Reservoir
Egelman Reservoir, located in Reading City, Pennsylvania, is a vital water supply resource managed by the local government. Built in 1901, this Earth dam structure on Ross Valley Creek stands at a height of 15 feet and has a length of 700 feet. With a storage capacity of 21.4 million gallons, the reservoir serves the primary purpose of water supply for the surrounding area.
Despite its historical significance, Egelman Reservoir has a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, highlighting the need for regular inspections and maintenance. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulates the reservoir, ensuring its compliance with state laws and safety standards. This reservoir plays a crucial role in providing water to the community, but its deteriorating condition underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and potential risk management measures to safeguard this essential resource for the future.
As a key water source in Berks County, Pennsylvania, Egelman Reservoir serves as a critical lifeline for local residents and businesses. However, its aging infrastructure and poor condition pose challenges that must be addressed to ensure the reservoir's continued functionality and safety. Climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates can appreciate the importance of preserving and maintaining Egelman Reservoir to secure a reliable water supply in the face of changing environmental conditions and increasing demand.
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 Egelman Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Schuylkill River At Reading | 641 cfs | → |
| Tulpehocken Creek Near Reading | 94 cfs | → |
| Tulpehocken Cr At Blue Marsh Damsite Near Reading | 70 cfs | → |
| Manatawny Creek Near Spangsville | 33 cfs | → |
| Maiden Creek Near Virginville | 70 cfs | → |
| Schuylkill River At Berne | 713 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Egelman Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Reading Riverfront Park
- Epler's Landing
- Wall Street Leesport
- Scott's Run Lake-French Creek State Park
- Sheidy Road
- Hopewell Lake-French Creek State Park
Track Egelman 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 Egelman Reservoir
Where does the data for Egelman 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 Egelman Reservoir.