Big Spring dam
Big Spring
Big Spring, located in St. Clair Township, Pennsylvania, is a vital water supply dam that has been serving the community since its completion in 1907. With a height of 43 feet and a length of 1000 feet, this earth dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 161 acre-feet and a normal storage of 129 acre-feet. It sits on the Big Spring Run, within the Westmoreland County, and covers a surface area of 6 acres, with a drainage area of 1.16 square miles.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Big Spring is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state authorities to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam has a high hazard potential, yet it has been assessed to be in satisfactory condition. Its last inspection in October 2020 confirmed its operational readiness, with an inspection frequency of once per year. Although no emergency action plan has been reported, the dam continues to meet guidelines and is in compliance with regulatory standards.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Big Spring serves as a crucial infrastructure for water supply in the region. Its historical significance, combined with its ongoing management and maintenance, underscores the importance of balancing water resource development with environmental protection. As a key component of the local government's water management strategy, Big Spring exemplifies the intersection of human needs and natural ecosystems, highlighting the complexities and challenges of sustainable water resource management in a changing climate.
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 Big Spring -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Conemaugh River At Seward | 581 cfs | → |
| Conemaugh River At Minersville | 645 cfs | → |
| Little Conemaugh River At East Conemaugh | 97 cfs | → |
| Stonycreek River At Ferndale | 316 cfs | → |
| Blacklick Creek At Josephine | 173 cfs | → |
| Two Lick Creek At Graceton | 131 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Spring.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Lorain Borough Park
- Stefan's Campsite
- Nanty Glo Municipal Park
- Antiochian Village Camp
- Adams Croyle
- Duman Lake County Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Big Spring 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 Big Spring
Where does the data for Big Spring 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 Big Spring.