Barnett dam
Barnett
Barnett is a private earth dam located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, specifically in West Cocalico Township. This dam sits along the TR Cocalico Creek and serves primarily for recreational purposes. With a height of 26 feet and a length of 440 feet, Barnett offers a storage capacity of 84 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 60 acre-feet. The dam covers a surface area of 8.25 acres and has a drainage area of 0.43 square miles.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Barnett is regulated and inspected by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with environmental standards. The dam has been assessed to have a fair condition, with a high hazard potential, meaning that failure could result in significant property damage and potential loss of life. The last inspection of Barnett was conducted in December 2020, with an inspection frequency of once per year.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Barnett presents an interesting case study for examining the management and regulation of private dams in Pennsylvania. With its recreational purpose and its location along the TR Cocalico Creek, Barnett plays a role in providing water storage and flood control in the area. Understanding the design, condition, and hazard potential of dams like Barnett is crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources in the region.
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 Barnett -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tulpehocken Creek Near Bernville | 73 cfs | → |
| Tulpehocken Cr At Blue Marsh Damsite Near Reading | 126 cfs | → |
| Tulpehocken Creek Near Reading | 152 cfs | → |
| Schuylkill River At Reading | 831 cfs | → |
| Conestoga River At Lancaster | 159 cfs | → |
| Pequea Creek Near Ronks | 69 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Barnett.
Boat launches
- Middle Creek Lake
- Speedwell Forge Lake - May Not Be Usable
- Stone Quarry Road 101, Lancaster County
- Lakeside Quarry
- Sheidy Road
Track Barnett 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 Barnett
Where does the data for Barnett 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 Barnett.