Glades dam
Glades
Glades is a state-owned dam located in Cherry Township, Butler, Pennsylvania. Completed in 1974, this earthen dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 390 acres for outdoor activities. The dam stands at a height of 24 feet and has a storage capacity of 8,600 acre-feet, providing ample water resources for the surrounding area.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Glades is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam has been assessed to be in satisfactory condition, with regular inspections scheduled to maintain its safety standards. The South Branch Slippery Rock Creek serves as the primary river or stream for Glades, contributing to its drainage area of 22.5 square miles.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Glades presents an intriguing case study of a recreational dam in Pennsylvania with a significant storage capacity and a vital role in the local ecosystem. With its history dating back to the 1970s, the dam continues to provide opportunities for outdoor recreation while also serving as a regulated and inspected structure to mitigate potential hazards and ensure public safety. Its location in Cherry Township offers a picturesque setting for visitors and residents to enjoy activities like fishing, boating, and wildlife observation, making it a valuable asset for the community and a focal point for water resource management 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 Glades -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Allegheny River At Parker | 12,700 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek Near Portersville | 69 cfs | → |
| Slippery Rock Creek At Wurtemburg | 534 cfs | → |
| Allegheny River At Franklin | 10,200 cfs | → |
| Connoquenessing Creek Near Zelienople | 211 cfs | → |
| Allegheny River At Kittanning | 15,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Glades.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Copperhead Retreat
- Danner Campground
- Kamp Kennerdell
- Burnt Ridge Campground
- Seneca Hills Bible Camp & Retreat Center
- Harts Content Campground
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Glades 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 Glades
Where does the data for Glades 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 Glades.