Wittmer Road Detention dam
Wittmer Road Detention
Wittmer Road Detention in McCandless Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, is a vital structure designed for flood risk reduction along Wittmer Run. Completed in 1990, this earth dam stands at 25 feet tall and spans 180 feet in length, providing storage of 14.4 acre-feet for floodwater management. With a hazard potential rated as high, Wittmer Road Detention plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, this dam is regularly inspected to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, the high hazard potential underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate risks and safeguard the community. With a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, Wittmer Road Detention serves as a critical infrastructure in the region's water resource management strategy.
Located within the Pittsburgh District, Wittmer Road Detention underscores the collaborative efforts between local and state agencies to address climate-related challenges. As climate change continues to pose threats to water resources, structures like Wittmer Road Detention are essential for enhancing resilience and adapting to the changing environment. By prioritizing proactive measures and investments in water infrastructure, communities can better prepare for future climate impacts and ensure the sustainable management of water resources for generations to come.
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 Wittmer Road Detention -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Pine Creek Near Etna | 3 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Sewickley | 23,400 cfs | → |
| Chartiers Creek At Carnegie | 147 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Creek At Moffatts Mill | 77 cfs | → |
| Allegheny River At Natrona | 16,400 cfs | → |
| Beaver River At Beaver Falls | 3,380 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wittmer Road Detention.
Boat launches
- North Park Boat Launch
- Kilbuck Access
- B &Amp; L Marina
- Westhall Street
- Chestnut Street
- Lawrenceville/40th Street Bridge
Track Wittmer Road Detention 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 Wittmer Road Detention
Where does the data for Wittmer Road Detention 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 Wittmer Road Detention.