Raystown Dam dam
Raystown Dam
Raystown Dam, also known as Raystown Lake, is a Federal-owned structure located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Completed in 1973, the dam serves primarily for Flood Risk Reduction, with additional purposes including recreation. Standing at a height of 225 feet and a length of 1700 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 871,000 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 8,300 acres. The dam is designed with a Rockfill structure and an uncontrolled spillway, capable of discharging up to 301,000 cubic feet of water per second.
Despite its risk reduction measures, Raystown Dam still poses a high hazard potential to downstream communities, with the possibility of flooding during high-volume releases from its spillways or in rare breach scenarios. To manage and mitigate these risks, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) conducts regular inspections, monitoring, and emergency response exercises. USACE also collaborates with Federal, state, and local agencies to update the Emergency Action Plan and provide timely flood warnings based on rainfall forecasts, ensuring the safety of communities along the Juniata River in the event of a flood.
In the face of these potential dangers, the ongoing efforts of USACE and the risk management measures in place highlight the importance of maintaining the integrity of Raystown Dam and safeguarding downstream communities from the devastating impacts of flooding. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the complex balancing act that comes with managing such critical infrastructure while prioritizing public safety and environmental stewardship.
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 Raystown Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rays Br Juniata R Bl Rays Dam Nr Huntingdon | 1,430 cfs | → |
| Juniata River At Huntingdon | 657 cfs | → |
| Juniata River At Mapleton Depot | 2,180 cfs | → |
| Frankstown Br Juniata River At Williamsburg | 248 cfs | → |
| Aughwick Creek Near Shirleysburg | 258 cfs | → |
| Little Juniata River At Spruce Creek | 185 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Raystown Dam.
Boat launches
- Corbin's Island
- Point Access
- Smithfield Riverside Park
- Mapleton Riverside Park Access
- Warrior Ridge Dam / Hydro-Electric
- Aitch
Campgrounds
- Susquehannock - Raystown Lake
- Seven Points
- Trough Creek State Park
- Camp Blue Diamond
- Canoe Creek State Park
- Rothrock State Forest Campsite #3
Fishing spots
Track Raystown Dam 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 Raystown Dam
Where does the data for Raystown Dam 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 Raystown Dam.