Dutch Fork dam
Dutch Fork
Dutch Fork is a state-owned dam located in Donegal Township, Pennsylvania, along the Dutch Fork Buffalo Creek. Built in 1959, this earth dam serves primarily for recreation purposes, with a height of 42 feet and a length of 460 feet. It has a storage capacity of 1,850 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 91 acres, drawing water from a drainage area of 17.8 square miles.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Dutch Fork is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state. Its hazard potential is rated as high, but its condition assessment is satisfactory as of the last inspection in March 2021. The dam has undergone modifications in 2012 to improve its hydraulic capabilities, ensuring its continued safety and functionality for both recreational use and water supply purposes in the region.
With its picturesque location and important role in water resource management, Dutch Fork stands as a vital infrastructure in Washington County, Pennsylvania. As a key site along the Dutch Fork Buffalo Creek, this dam not only provides recreational opportunities but also contributes to the storage and distribution of water for the surrounding area. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find Dutch Fork to be a fascinating example of man-made structures working harmoniously with nature to meet the needs of the community while ensuring safety and sustainability for the future.
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 Dutch Fork -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wheeling Creek At Elm Grove | 192 cfs | → |
| Short Creek Near Dillonvale Oh | 104 cfs | → |
| Wheeling Creek Below Blaine Oh | 83 cfs | → |
| Kings Creek At Weirton | 23 cfs | → |
| South Fork Tenmile Creek At Jefferson | 57 cfs | → |
| Chartiers Creek At Carnegie | 152 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dutch Fork.
Boat launches
- Dutch Fork Lake (West Side)
- Canonsburg Lake
- 13th Street 107, Moundsville
- Newburg Landing
- Raccoon State Park
- Powhatan Point Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Montour Trail - Boggs Trailhead Campsite
- Raccoon Creek State Park
- Tomlinson Run State Park
- Jefferson Lake State Park
Track Dutch Fork 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 Dutch Fork
Where does the data for Dutch Fork 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 Dutch Fork.