Yellow Creek dam
Yellow Creek
Yellow Creek, located in Brush Valley Township in Indiana, Pennsylvania, is a state-regulated dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1969, this earth dam stands at a height of 62 feet and has a length of 625 feet, providing a storage capacity of 37,800 acre-feet. With a surface area of 710 acres and draining an area of 52.5 square miles, Yellow Creek offers a picturesque setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy various recreational activities.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment and high hazard potential, Yellow Creek underwent structural modifications in 2007 to ensure its continued safety and functionality. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees permitting, inspection, and enforcement activities to maintain compliance with state regulations. This dam serves as a vital water resource in the region, providing not only recreational opportunities but also essential storage capacity for managing water flow and mitigating flood risks in the area.
As a significant feature in the Pittsburgh District, Yellow Creek is a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in its design, construction, and operational aspects. With a history of serving the community for over five decades, this dam continues to play a crucial role in water management while offering a recreational haven for visitors to appreciate the natural beauty of Yellow Creek and its surrounding 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 Yellow Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Creek Near Homer City | 66 cfs | → |
| Two Lick Creek At Graceton | 131 cfs | → |
| Blacklick Creek At Josephine | 173 cfs | → |
| Conemaugh River At Seward | 581 cfs | → |
| Crooked Creek At Idaho | 66 cfs | → |
| Little Mahoning Creek At Mccormick | 78 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Yellow Creek.
Track Yellow Creek 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 Yellow Creek
Where does the data for Yellow Creek 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 Yellow Creek.