Washington School dam
Washington School
Washington School in Washington, Pennsylvania plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction along the TR Catfish Creek. This earth dam, completed in 1976, stands at 23 feet high and stretches 400 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 31.2 acre-feet to help mitigate potential flooding in the area. Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, this dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its operational effectiveness.
Despite its high hazard potential, Washington School dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition, with regular inspections scheduled to maintain its structural integrity. The dam serves as a vital resource for the local community, protecting against flood events and safeguarding the surrounding area from potential water-related disasters. With its primary purpose being flood risk reduction, this dam underscores the importance of water resource management and climate resilience efforts in Pennsylvania.
Located in Washington City, this dam stands as a testament to the proactive measures taken by local government entities to address water resource challenges. As climate change continues to impact the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, infrastructure like Washington School plays a critical role in protecting communities and enhancing their resilience in the face of environmental threats.
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 Washington School -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chartiers Creek At Carnegie | 152 cfs | → |
| Monongahela River At Elizabeth | 21,100 cfs | → |
| South Fork Tenmile Creek At Jefferson | 57 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River At Sutersville | 3,640 cfs | → |
| Wheeling Creek At Elm Grove | 192 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Sewickley | 26,800 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Washington School.
Boat launches
- Canonsburg Lake
- Dutch Fork Lake (West Side)
- Howard Street
- Monongehela Aquatorium
- Elrama Street
- East Fredricktown
Campgrounds
- Montour Trail - Boggs Trailhead Campsite
- Cedar Creek Trekker Campground
- Raccoon Creek State Park
- Mason - Dixon Historical Park
Fishing spots
- Belmot Lake
- Belmont Lake
- Bruceton Mills Public Fishing Area
- Barnesville Lake #4
- Barnesville Lake
- Clendening Lake
Paddle runs
Track Washington School 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 Washington School
Where does the data for Washington School 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 Washington School.