Crum Creek dam
Crum Creek
Crum Creek, a privately owned dam located in Springfield Township, Pennsylvania, has been a vital source of water supply since its completion in 1920. This gravity dam, with a height of 25 feet and a length of 610 feet, provides a storage capacity of 670 acre-feet and serves a drainage area of 29.1 square miles. Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulates and inspects the dam regularly to ensure its safety and reliability for water supply purposes.
The dam on Crum Creek is associated with a surface area of 27 acres and a normal storage capacity of 282 acre-feet, making it a crucial infrastructure for managing water resources in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. With a designated emergency action plan and a history of inspections, the dam demonstrates a commitment to safety and risk management measures. Although there are no spillways or outlet gates specified, the dam's structural integrity and compliance with state regulations highlight its importance as a key component of the local water supply system.
Represented within the Baltimore District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Crum Creek serves as a significant example of early 20th-century dam construction for water resource enthusiasts. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, understanding the history and function of dams like Crum Creek is essential for preserving and managing vital water resources in a sustainable and resilient manner.
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 Crum Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ridley Creek At Media | 121 cfs | → |
| Chester Creek Near Chester | 305 cfs | → |
| Crum Creek Near Newtown Square | 43 cfs | → |
| Cobbs Cr At U.S. Hghwy No. 1 At Philadelphia | 4 cfs | → |
| Cobbs Creek At Mt. Moriah Cemetery | 31 cfs | → |
| Schuylkill River At Philadelphia | 915 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crum Creek.
Boat launches
- Betzwood
- Norristown Riverfront Park
- Crown Point Road Oldmans
- Creek Road Bellmawr
- Plant Road Penns Grove
- Arcola Rd 3506, Lower Providence Township
Campgrounds
- Tinicum Island Primitive Campsite
- Harmony Hill Wilderness Area Campsite
- Yogi Bear Tall Pines Campground
- Camp Laughing Waters
- Camp Green Lane
- Camp Sumney
Fishing spots
Track Crum 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 Crum Creek
Where does the data for Crum 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 Crum Creek.