Laurelwood dam
Laurelwood
Laurelwood is a privately owned dam located in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. It was completed in 1993 for the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the TR Brush Creek. With a dam height of 13.8 feet and a length of 440 feet, Laurelwood has a storage capacity of 8.7 acre-feet and serves as a vital infrastructure in the region's water resource management.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Laurelwood is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its operational integrity. The dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential, although its condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated." Despite this, Laurelwood plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks and protecting the surrounding communities from potential water-related disasters.
As a key component of the flood control system in the area, Laurelwood represents a critical piece of infrastructure that helps to safeguard against the impacts of extreme weather events and changing climate patterns. Its presence highlights the importance of proactive water resource management and the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and security of the surrounding areas. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate Laurelwood for its role in promoting sustainable development and resilience in the face of environmental challenges.
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 Laurelwood -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Connoquenessing Creek Near Zelienople | 211 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Sewickley | 23,400 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 Laurelwood.
Boat launches
- Jackson Street 104, Harmony
- Hereford Manor-Closed-Public Access Prohibited
- Rochester
- Monaca Access
- North Park Boat Launch
- New Brighton
Campgrounds
- Harts Content Campground
- Montour Trail - Boggs Trailhead Campsite
- Raccoon Creek State Park
- Beaver Creek State Park
- Tomlinson Run State Park
- Burnt Ridge Campground
Paddle runs
Track Laurelwood 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 Laurelwood
Where does the data for Laurelwood 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 Laurelwood.