Indian Creek dam
Indian Creek
Indian Creek, located in Fayette, Pennsylvania, is a masonry dam completed in 1905 for the primary purpose of water supply. With a height of 40 feet and a length of 515 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 826 acre-feet, with a normal storage capacity of 706 acre-feet. The dam is situated in Springfield Township and is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, with state inspection and enforcement in place to ensure its safety.
Despite its historical significance, Indian Creek Dam currently poses a high hazard potential with a poor condition assessment. The last inspection in November 2020 revealed its deteriorating state, prompting concerns for its structural integrity. The dam is not USACE-owned, but its critical infrastructure status warrants increased attention and potential risk management measures to mitigate any potential dangers posed by its deteriorating condition.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the deteriorating state of Indian Creek Dam serves as a compelling case study on the importance of infrastructure maintenance and the need for proactive risk management in the face of evolving environmental conditions. As a vital water supply source, the dam's deteriorating condition highlights the urgent need for investment in its maintenance and potential rehabilitation to ensure the safety and security of the surrounding community and water resources in the face of climate change and increasing infrastructure risks.
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 Indian Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Youghiogheny River At Connellsville | 943 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River At Ohiopyle | 726 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River Below Confluence | 761 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River At Youghiogheny River Dam | 464 cfs | → |
| Laurel Hill Creek At Ursina | 74 cfs | → |
| Casselman River At Markleton | 147 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Indian Creek.
Boat launches
- Cranberry Glade Lake
- Connellsville
- Acme Dam
- Jacobs Creek Park
- Double Bridge Road Mount Pleasant Township
- River Road Dawson
Campgrounds
- Kentuck Campground
- Kentuck - Ohiopyle State Park
- Paddler's Lane Campground
- Laurel Hill State Park
- Outflow - Youghiogheny River Lake
- Kooser State Park
Fishing spots
- Bruceton Mills Public Fishing Area
- Frostburg Reservoir
- Deep Creek Lake
- Sand Spring Run
- Savage River Reservoir
- Georges Creek
Track Indian Creek 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 Indian Creek
Where does the data for Indian Creek 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 Indian Creek.