Cave Hollow dam
Cave Hollow
Located in Georges Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania, Cave Hollow, also known as Fairchance Reservoir, is a local government-owned dam with a primary purpose of water supply. Completed in 1926, this earth dam stands at 29 feet tall and spans 190 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 15 acre-feet. The dam regulates Cave Hollow Run, serving as a vital resource for the surrounding community.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Cave Hollow poses a high hazard potential, necessitating regular inspections by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The dam is state-regulated, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement procedures in place to ensure its safety and functionality. With a drainage area of 1.59 square miles, Cave Hollow plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate the historical significance and engineering feat of Cave Hollow. With its strategic location and essential role in water supply, this dam serves as a critical infrastructure for the community, highlighting the intersection of human ingenuity with natural resources. As climate change impacts water availability and quality, the maintenance and regulation of structures like Cave Hollow become increasingly important in ensuring sustainable water management for future generations.
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 Cave Hollow -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Monongahela River Near Masontown | 2,120 cfs | → |
| Redstone Creek At Waltersburg | 49 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River At Ohiopyle | 804 cfs | → |
| Dunkard Creek At Shannopin | 74 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Creek At Rockville | 107 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River At Connellsville | 1,090 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cave Hollow.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Tall Oaks Campground
- Chestnut Ridge Regional Park
- Coopers Rock State Forest
- Kentuck - Ohiopyle State Park
- Kentuck Campground
- Tub Run Rec Area - Youghiogheny River Lake
Fishing spots
- Bruceton Mills Public Fishing Area
- Deep Creek Lake
- Snowy Creek
- Broadford Lake
- Little Youghiogheny River Reservoir
- Savage River Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Youghiogheny River Lake Dam In Confluence, Pennsylvania To Ends In South Connellsville, Pennsylvania
- Begins As River Passes Under The Herrington Manor Road Bridge At Oakland, Maryland To The Corporate Boundary Of Friendsville, Maryland
- State Park Bridge To North Fork
- North Fork To Hickory Lick Run
- Otter Creek To Blackwater
- Route 33/8 To Jobs Run Near Porterwood
Track Cave Hollow 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 Cave Hollow
Where does the data for Cave Hollow 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 Cave Hollow.