Royal Reservoir dam
Royal Reservoir
Royal Reservoir, located in Redstone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1908 for recreational purposes. The reservoir has a dam height of 32 feet and a length of 450 feet, with a maximum storage capacity of 239 acre-feet and a normal storage of 82 acre-feet. With a surface area of 8 acres and a drainage area of 1.6 square miles, Royal Reservoir is a popular spot for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Royal Reservoir is state regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced to ensure safety and compliance with environmental standards. The dam's hazard potential is classified as significant, although its condition assessment is currently not rated. The last inspection took place in December 2017, with a frequency of every two years. While the Emergency Action Plan status and risk assessment details are not specified, Royal Reservoir remains a key recreational resource in the region, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
Overall, Royal Reservoir serves as a vital water resource for the community, offering both recreational opportunities and environmental benefits. Its picturesque location along Rowes Run, with support from local and state regulatory agencies, ensures the maintenance of the reservoir's safety and integrity. For those passionate about water management and climate-related issues, Royal Reservoir stands as a noteworthy example of sustainable water use and conservation efforts in Pennsylvania.
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 Royal Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Redstone Creek At Waltersburg | 49 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River At Connellsville | 1,090 cfs | → |
| Monongahela River Near Masontown | 2,120 cfs | → |
| South Fork Tenmile Creek At Jefferson | 24 cfs | → |
| Dunkard Creek At Shannopin | 74 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River At Sutersville | 1,340 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Royal Reservoir.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Cedar Creek Trekker Campground
- Kentuck Campground
- Kentuck - Ohiopyle State Park
- Tall Oaks Campground
- Chestnut Ridge Regional Park
- Coopers Rock State Forest
Fishing spots
- Bruceton Mills Public Fishing Area
- Deep Creek Lake
- Snowy Creek
- Broadford Lake
- Frostburg Reservoir
- Little Youghiogheny 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
More reservoirs
Track Royal Reservoir 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 Royal Reservoir
Where does the data for Royal Reservoir 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 Royal Reservoir.