Upper dam
Upper
Upper is a Stone-type dam located in Penn Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania. Built in 1919, this dam serves primarily for recreation purposes, with a normal storage capacity of 77 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 99 acre-feet. The dam stands at a height of 22 feet and spans a length of 134 feet, creating a surface area of 11 acres and draining an area of 6.5 square miles.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Upper is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections. Despite having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition is currently not rated, with the last inspection conducted in May 2015. The dam has undergone modifications in 2002 to enhance its hydraulic and structural integrity, ensuring its continued safety and functionality for the surrounding community.
Located along Cove Run, Upper provides a scenic recreational spot for visitors to enjoy. With its historical significance and ongoing maintenance efforts, the dam serves as a vital resource for water management and climate resilience in the region, highlighting the importance of sustainable infrastructure for a changing 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 Upper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Conodoguinet Creek Near Hogestown | 186 cfs | → |
| Sherman Creek At Shermans Dale | 99 cfs | → |
| Juniata River At Newport | 2,490 cfs | → |
| Paxton Creek Near Glenwood | 5 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Harrisburg | 26,400 cfs | → |
| Yellow Breeches Creek Near Camp Hill | 170 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper.
Boat launches
- Public Boat Launch
- Heritage Park Picnic Area And Boat Launch
- Enola Boat Access
- Pfbc Fort Hunter Boat Launch
- Old Willow Mill Road 277, Cumberland County
- Acri Meadow Park
Campgrounds
- Streamside Campsite
- Island Grove Campground
- Forest Campsite With Stream
- Bald Eagle #72
- Pine Grove Furnace State Park
- Forest Campsite (No Water)
More reservoirs
Track Upper 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 Upper
Where does the data for Upper 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 Low 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 Upper.