High Point Lake dam
High Point Lake
High Point Lake, located in Somerset, Pennsylvania, is a state-regulated recreational reservoir completed in 1965. The dam, an earth buttress type, stands at a height of 45 feet and stretches 725 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 6,580 acre-feet, the lake covers a surface area of 300 acres and serves as a popular destination for water enthusiasts.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, High Point Lake offers opportunities for boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Glade Run feeds into the reservoir, ensuring a steady water supply for recreational use. Despite being classified with a high hazard potential, the dam's condition is deemed satisfactory, with regular inspections and enforcement by the state agency to ensure safety and compliance.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the role of High Point Lake in providing a picturesque setting for leisure activities while also recognizing the importance of proper regulation and maintenance to mitigate potential hazards. As a vital water resource in the region, the lake stands as a testament to responsible management practices in balancing recreation with environmental conservation.
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 High Point Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Laurel Hill Creek At Ursina | 74 cfs | → |
| Casselman River At Markleton | 147 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River At Youghiogheny River Dam | 464 cfs | → |
| Casselman River At Grantsville | 30 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 High Point Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Outflow - Youghiogheny River Lake
- Paddler's Lane Campground
- Mill Run - Youghiogheny River Lake
- Tub Run Rec Area - Youghiogheny River Lake
- Camp Sonrise Mountain Christian Retreat Center
- New Germany State Park
Fishing spots
- Frostburg Reservoir
- Sand Spring Run
- Savage River Reservoir
- Georges Creek
- Deep Creek Lake
- Dans Mountain Pond
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
- Begins South Of Largent To The Confluence With The Potomac At Great Cacapon
- North Fork To Hickory Lick Run
- Perennial Stream At Forks To Dolly Sods Wilderness Boundary
Track High Point 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 High Point Lake
Where does the data for High Point 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 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 High Point Lake.