Upper Owl Creek dam
Upper Owl Creek
Upper Owl Creek is a vital water supply structure located in Tamaqua Borough, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania. Owned by the local government, this earth dam stands at a height of 43 feet and was completed in 1921. With a storage capacity of 1290 acre-feet and a normal storage of 920 acre-feet, Upper Owl Creek serves the primary purpose of water supply for the region.
Managed and regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, this dam is an essential part of the water resource infrastructure in the area. With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of the last inspection in October 2020, Upper Owl Creek plays a crucial role in ensuring water availability and security for the community. Despite being a century-old structure, it continues to provide valuable services and remains under regular scrutiny and maintenance to uphold its functionality and safety standards.
As an integral part of the water management system in Pennsylvania, Upper Owl Creek represents a significant asset in the state's efforts to safeguard its water resources amidst changing climate conditions. With its history, design, and purpose intertwined with the region's water supply needs, this dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices and the critical role of infrastructure in adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change on water resources.
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 Owl Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Schuylkill River At Tamaqua | 41 cfs | → |
| Lehigh River At Lehighton | 792 cfs | → |
| Pohopoco Cr Bl Beltzville Dam Nr Parryville | 98 cfs | → |
| Schuylkill River At Landingville | 209 cfs | → |
| Lehigh River At Walnutport | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Aquashicola Creek At Palmerton | 63 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Owl Creek.
Boat launches
- Tuscarora Lake Boat Launch
- Mauch Chunk Boat Launch
- Mauch Chunk Lake Boat Launch A
- Leaser Lake-(North Ramp)
- Leaser Lake-(South Ramp)
- Locust Lake Boat Launch
Track Upper Owl 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 Upper Owl Creek
Where does the data for Upper Owl 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 Upper Owl Creek.