Maxwell Locks And Dam dam
Maxwell Locks And Dam
Maxwell Locks and Dam, also known as Maxwell Pool, is a gravity dam located in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, along the Monongahela River. Built in 1964 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, this dam serves primarily for navigation purposes, with a hydraulic height of 31 feet and a structural height of 56 feet. The dam features two locks, with a length of 720 feet and a width of 84 feet each, allowing for the safe passage of boats and barges along the river.
With a storage capacity of 30,900 acre-feet and a drainage area of 4,961 square miles, Maxwell Locks and Dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels and preventing flooding in the region. The dam is equipped with a controlled spillway, five Tainter (radial) outlet gates, and a spillway width of 420 feet to regulate the flow of water downstream. Despite its significant hazard potential, the US Army Corps of Engineers actively monitors and manages the dam's risks through regular inspections, maintenance, and emergency preparedness measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
In the face of increasing climate variability and severe weather events, Maxwell Locks and Dam remains a vital piece of infrastructure for water resource management and flood control in Pennsylvania. With a commitment to risk management and public safety, the US Army Corps of Engineers continues to prioritize the maintenance and operation of this essential structure to safeguard the surrounding communities and waterways from potential hazards and emergencies.
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 Maxwell Locks And Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Tenmile Creek At Jefferson | 57 cfs | → |
| Redstone Creek At Waltersburg | 57 cfs | → |
| Monongahela River Near Masontown | 6,960 cfs | → |
| Dunkard Creek At Shannopin | 140 cfs | → |
| Monongahela River At Elizabeth | 21,100 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River At Sutersville | 3,640 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Maxwell Locks And Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Cedar Creek Trekker Campground
- Mason - Dixon Historical Park
- Chestnut Ridge Regional Park
- Tall Oaks Campground
- Kentuck Campground
- Kentuck - Ohiopyle State Park
Fishing spots
- Bruceton Mills Public Fishing Area
- Deep Creek Lake
- Snowy Creek
- Broadford Lake
- Little Youghiogheny River Reservoir
- Frostburg Reservoir
Track Maxwell Locks And 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 Maxwell Locks And Dam
Where does the data for Maxwell Locks And 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 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 Maxwell Locks And Dam.