Ash Basin No 1 dam
Ash Basin No 1
Ash Basin No 1 in Snyder, Pennsylvania, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1949 with a primary purpose listed as "Other." The dam stands at a height of 22 feet and has a length of 6405 feet, providing a storage capacity of 95 acre-feet. Located in Monroe Township, the dam is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and is inspected regularly to ensure its fair condition and high hazard potential are managed effectively.
Situated in the watershed of the Susquehanna River, Ash Basin No 1 serves as a crucial water resource in the region, with a normal storage capacity of 16 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.1 square miles. Despite its fair condition assessment, the dam's high hazard potential necessitates strict regulatory oversight and emergency preparedness. With a history dating back to the mid-20th century, Ash Basin No 1 showcases the importance of maintaining aging infrastructure to safeguard against potential risks and ensure the sustainable management of water resources in the face of changing climate patterns.
As an essential component of the water management infrastructure in Pennsylvania, Ash Basin No 1 highlights the intersection of environmental regulation, climate resilience, and public safety. With its location in a region represented by Tom Marino (R) and overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the dam plays a critical role in mitigating flood risks, providing water storage, and supporting the ecological health of the Susquehanna River watershed. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and oversight of structures like Ash Basin No 1 are vital for ensuring the long-term sustainability of water systems and the communities that rely on them.
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 Ash Basin No 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Susquehanna River At Sunbury | 15,400 cfs | → |
| West Branch Susquehanna River At Lewisburg | 7,140 cfs | → |
| Chillisquaque Creek Near Potts Grove | 47 cfs | → |
| Penns Creek At Penns Creek | 276 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Danville | 7,610 cfs | → |
| East Mahantango Creek Near Dalmatia | 99 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ash Basin No 1.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Track Ash Basin No 1 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 Ash Basin No 1
Where does the data for Ash Basin No 1 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 Ash Basin No 1.