Deer Valley Lake dam
Deer Valley Lake
Deer Valley Lake, located in Elk Lick Township, Somerset, Pennsylvania, is a privately owned recreational lake with a dam completed in 1953. The primary purpose of the Earth dam, which stands at a height of 22 feet and a length of 800 feet, is to provide recreational opportunities for visitors. With a normal storage capacity of 600 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 1045 acre-feet, the lake covers a surface area of 120 acres and serves as a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts in the area.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Deer Valley Lake is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. The dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of its condition assessment, with inspections conducted every five years to monitor its integrity. Although there are no spillways or outlet gates listed, the lake remains a stable and well-maintained recreational resource for the community.
While Deer Valley Lake does not have a designated Emergency Action Plan or risk assessment in place, its hazard potential is considered low, providing a sense of security for those who frequent the area. With its picturesque setting along Cove Run and ample recreational opportunities, including fishing, boating, and hiking, Deer Valley Lake continues to be a beloved destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts looking to enjoy the beauty of nature in Somerset, 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 Deer Valley Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Casselman River At Markleton | 248 cfs | → |
| Laurel Hill Creek At Ursina | 74 cfs | → |
| Casselman River At Grantsville | 29 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River At Youghiogheny River Dam | 403 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River Below Confluence | 761 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Friendsville | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Deer Valley Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Outflow - Youghiogheny River Lake
- Paddler's Lane Campground
- Mill Run - Youghiogheny River Lake
- Tub Run Rec Area - Youghiogheny River Lake
- New Germany State Park Campground
- New Germany State Park
Fishing spots
- Frostburg Reservoir
- Sand Spring Run
- Georges Creek
- Savage River Reservoir
- Dans Mountain Pond
- Deep Creek Lake
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
- Begins South Of Largent To The Confluence With The Potomac At Great Cacapon
- State Park Bridge To North Fork
- North Fork To Hickory Lick Run
- Capon Bridge To Ends Just South Of Largent
Track Deer Valley Lake 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 Deer Valley Lake
Where does the data for Deer Valley Lake 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 Low 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 Deer Valley Lake.