Lake Macleod dam
Lake Macleod
Lake Macleod in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, is a private reservoir managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. This Earth dam, with a height of 30 feet and a length of 400 feet, serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 8 acres and a storage capacity of 97 acre-feet. The dam, located in Pine Township, regulates the flow of TR Breakneck Creek, providing a scenic and serene setting for water and climate enthusiasts.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Lake Macleod poses a significant hazard potential due to its age and structural integrity. The dam underwent structural modification in 2017, further enhancing its safety measures. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last one taking place in May 2018, to ensure the dam's stability and functionality. While the reservoir meets guidelines for emergency action preparedness, there is room for improvement in risk assessment and management measures to enhance overall safety and security.
With its picturesque surroundings and recreational opportunities, Lake Macleod is a valuable water resource in Pennsylvania. As climate change continues to impact the region, maintaining the dam's integrity and implementing effective risk management strategies are crucial to safeguarding this important asset and ensuring its long-term sustainability for future generations of water and climate enthusiasts.
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 Lake Macleod -- 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 | → |
| Allegheny River At Natrona | 16,400 cfs | → |
| Connoquenessing Creek Near Zelienople | 211 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Near Freeport | 323 cfs | → |
| Beaver River At Beaver Falls | 3,380 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Macleod.
Boat launches
- North Park Boat Launch
- Glade Run Access
- Jackson Street 104, Harmony
- B &Amp; L Marina
- Kilbuck Access
- Deer Creek
Campgrounds
- Harts Content Campground
- Montour Trail - Boggs Trailhead Campsite
- Raccoon Creek State Park
- Burnt Ridge Campground
- Crooked Creek Recreation Area
Paddle runs
Track Lake Macleod 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 Lake Macleod
Where does the data for Lake Macleod 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 Lake Macleod.