West 17th Street Detention dam
West 17th Street Detention
West 17th Street Detention in Erie, Pennsylvania, is a vital flood risk reduction structure constructed in 2001 with an earth dam type and a height of 13 feet. Located in Millcreek Township, this detention facility serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along TR Lake Erie. With a storage capacity of 107 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.73 square miles, this significant structure plays a crucial role in managing stormwater and reducing the risk of flooding in the area.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, West 17th Street Detention is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state authorities to ensure its proper functioning and safety. Despite being rated as in fair condition with a moderate risk assessment, this detention facility has a hazard potential classified as significant. Regular inspections are conducted to monitor its condition and address any maintenance or repair needs to mitigate the risk of failure and ensure its effectiveness in flood control.
With its strategic location and design features, West 17th Street Detention stands as a key infrastructure asset in the region's water resource management efforts. As climate change continues to bring about more intense and frequent storms, structures like this play a critical role in safeguarding communities, properties, and the environment from the impacts of flooding. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the importance and functioning of such detention facilities is essential in promoting resilience and sustainability in the face of changing weather patterns and hydrological conditions.
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 West 17th Street Detention -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Walnut Creek Upstream Pool | 49 cfs | → |
| Brandy Run Near Girard | 6 cfs | → |
| French Creek Near Union City | 678 cfs | → |
| French Creek Near Wattsburg | 167 cfs | → |
| Conneaut Creek At Conneaut Oh | 937 cfs | → |
| Woodcock Creek At Woodcock Creek Dam | 68 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West 17th Street Detention.
Boat launches
- Vista Launch
- Bay Harbor Public Ramp
- Niagra Launch
- Chestnut Street Boat Ramp
- Walnut Creek
- West Pier Launch
Track West 17th Street 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 West 17th Street Detention
Where does the data for West 17th Street 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 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 West 17th Street Detention.