Bigan dam
Bigan
Bigan is a privately-owned dam located in Somerset, Pennsylvania, along the Sandy Run river. Completed in 1957, this earth dam stands at a height of 24 feet and has a length of 1838 feet, with a storage capacity of 210 acre-feet. The primary purpose of Bigan is for recreation, offering a surface area of 16 acres for outdoor activities.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bigan is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safety and compliance with state standards. The dam has a high hazard potential and is classified as being in fair condition. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last one done in October 2020. While there are no associated structures, Bigan serves as an important recreational site in the region for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy.
Despite its fair condition, the high hazard potential of Bigan highlights the importance of ongoing risk management and emergency preparedness. With its location in Paint Township and proximity to the Baltimore District, it is crucial for stakeholders to stay informed and engaged in the maintenance and safety of this recreational dam. As a key feature along the Sandy Run river, Bigan offers both beauty and potential risks that must be carefully managed for the benefit of the community and the environment.
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 Bigan -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Stonycreek River At Ferndale | 316 cfs | → |
| Little Conemaugh River At East Conemaugh | 97 cfs | → |
| Conemaugh River At Minersville | 645 cfs | → |
| Raystown Branch Juniata River At Wolfsburg | 920 cfs | → |
| Dunning Creek At Belden | 48 cfs | → |
| Conemaugh River At Seward | 581 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bigan.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Quemahoning Family Rec Area
- Lorain Borough Park
- Adams Croyle
- Shawnee State Park
- Stefan's Campsite
- Organized Group Tenting
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Youghiogheny River Lake Dam In Confluence, Pennsylvania To Ends In South Connellsville, Pennsylvania
- Begins South Of Largent To The Confluence With The Potomac At Great Cacapon
More reservoirs
Track Bigan 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 Bigan
Where does the data for Bigan 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 Bigan.