Emsworth Locks And Dams dam
Emsworth Locks And Dams
Emsworth Locks and Dams, located in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River, serve a crucial role in navigation. Completed in 1938 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, these gravity dams stand at a hydraulic height of 22 feet and have a structural height of 25 feet. With a spillway width of 800 feet and a controlled spillway type, the dams can manage a maximum discharge of 300,000 cubic feet per second. The facility also includes two locks that are 600 feet long and 110 feet wide, allowing for the passage of vessels through the river.
The dams have a storage capacity of 42,700 acre-feet and cover a surface area of 2,870 acres, supporting a drainage area of 19,428 acres. While the risk assessment for Emsworth Locks and Dams is rated as very high, the US Army Corps of Engineers actively manages and monitors the facility to address flood risks. By engaging with local emergency managers, updating emergency action plans, and conducting regular maintenance and repairs, the Corps ensures the structural integrity and safety of the dams. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the dynamic management of Emsworth Locks and Dams showcases the critical role of infrastructure in mitigating flood risks and ensuring water resource sustainability in the face of changing environmental 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 Emsworth Locks And Dams -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio River At Sewickley | 23,400 cfs | → |
| Chartiers Creek At Carnegie | 147 cfs | → |
| Little Pine Creek Near Etna | 3 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Creek At Moffatts Mill | 77 cfs | → |
| Monongahela River At Elizabeth | 21,100 cfs | → |
| Allegheny River At Natrona | 16,400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Emsworth Locks And Dams.
Track Emsworth Locks And Dams 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 Emsworth Locks And Dams
Where does the data for Emsworth Locks And Dams 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 Emsworth Locks And Dams.