Blue Ridge Det dam
Blue Ridge Det
Blue Ridge Det, located in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, is a privately owned dam regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Built in 1990, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 16 feet and has a length of 220 feet. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a storage capacity of 19.6 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.19 square miles.
Despite being non-rated for condition assessment, Blue Ridge Det poses a significant hazard potential due to its location along the TR Brush Creek. The dam has not been modified in recent years and is inspected every two years, with the last inspection conducted in August 2018. While the dam does not have an emergency action plan in place, it meets state regulatory requirements for permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts in the area, keeping an eye on Blue Ridge Det's maintenance and risk management measures is crucial to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the integrity of the dam. With its strategic flood risk reduction purpose and regulatory oversight, this dam serves as a vital component in managing water resources in Butler County, 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 Blue Ridge Det -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio River At Sewickley | 23,400 cfs | → |
| Connoquenessing Creek Near Zelienople | 211 cfs | → |
| Beaver River At Beaver Falls | 3,380 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Creek At Moffatts Mill | 77 cfs | → |
| Slippery Rock Creek At Wurtemburg | 534 cfs | → |
| Little Pine Creek Near Etna | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blue Ridge Det.
Boat launches
- Rochester
- Monaca Access
- Jackson Street 104, Harmony
- Leetsdale
- Hereford Manor-Closed-Public Access Prohibited
- New Brighton
Track Blue Ridge Det 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 Blue Ridge Det
Where does the data for Blue Ridge Det 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 Blue Ridge Det.