Milltown dam
Milltown
Milltown, located in East Goshen Township, Pennsylvania, is a crucial water supply dam regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Built in 1924, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and spans 349 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 114 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of water supply, Milltown serves the community with a normal storage capacity of 18 acre-feet across a surface area of 9 acres, drawing from a drainage area of 6.6 square miles.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Milltown poses a high hazard potential due to its age and the surrounding area's vulnerability. Regular inspections are conducted with a frequency of one year, with the last assessment completed in November 2020. While the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are unclear, its critical role in water supply underscores the importance of proactive monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and reliability of this essential infrastructure.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of dams like Milltown in maintaining water supply and managing risk in the face of changing environmental conditions is vital. By staying informed about the regulatory oversight, condition assessments, and emergency preparedness of structures like Milltown, we can contribute to the sustainable management of water resources and the resilience of our communities in the face of potential water-related challenges.
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 Milltown -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Crum Creek Near Newtown Square | 6 cfs | → |
| East Branch Brandywine Creek Below Downingtown | 46 cfs | → |
| Brandywine Creek At Chadds Ford | 188 cfs | → |
| Broad Run At Northbrook | 25 cfs | → |
| Ridley Creek At Media | 23 cfs | → |
| Valley Creek At Pa Turnpike Br Near Valley Forge | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Milltown.
Boat launches
- Betzwood
- West Side-Lyndell
- Phoenixville
- Arcola Rd 3506, Lower Providence Township
- Spring City
- Norristown Riverfront Park
Campgrounds
- Harmony Hill Wilderness Area Campsite
- Tinicum Island Primitive Campsite
- Camp Laughing Waters
- William Penn State Forest Designated Campsite
- Camp Green Lane
- Camp Sumney
Fishing spots
Track Milltown 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 Milltown
Where does the data for Milltown 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 Milltown.