Little Buffalo Creek dam
Little Buffalo Creek
Little Buffalo Creek is a state-regulated water resource located in Perry, Pennsylvania, with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam, completed in 1970, is an earth structure with a height of 52 feet and a length of 1750 feet, providing storage of up to 4020 acre-feet of water. The drainage area of 13.4 square miles ensures a steady flow into the creek, supporting the surface area of 87 acres for various recreational activities.
Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition is assessed as fair, with the last inspection conducted in December 2020. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection oversees the regulation, inspection, and enforcement of the dam, ensuring its safety and functionality for the surrounding community. With its strategic location in Centre Township and the Buffalo District, Little Buffalo Creek serves as a vital water resource for both recreational enjoyment and environmental sustainability, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts alike to appreciate its beauty and significance in the region.
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 Little Buffalo Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Juniata River At Newport | 2,490 cfs | → |
| Sherman Creek At Shermans Dale | 99 cfs | → |
| Bixler Run Near Loysville | 6 cfs | → |
| Tuscarora Creek Near Port Royal | 393 cfs | → |
| Conodoguinet Creek Near Hogestown | 186 cfs | → |
| East Mahantango Creek Near Dalmatia | 173 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Buffalo Creek.
Boat launches
- Little Buffalo State Park Boat Launch
- Howe Twp Park
- Pfbc Greenwood Access
- Thompsontown Access
- Public Boat Launch
- Muskrat Springs
Campgrounds
- Island Grove Campground
- Bald Eagle #72
- Streamside Campsite
- Reeds Gap Tent Camping
- Fowlers Hollow State Park
- Baden Powell
More reservoirs
Track Little Buffalo 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 Little Buffalo Creek
Where does the data for Little Buffalo 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 Little Buffalo Creek.