Sawmill Run dam
Sawmill Run
Sawmill Run is a privately owned dam located in Butler Township, Pennsylvania, with a primary purpose of grade stabilization. Built in 1968, this earth dam stands at a height of 58 feet and stretches 540 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 378 acre-feet. Despite its fair condition assessment, Sawmill Run is classified as having a high hazard potential, emphasizing the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Sawmill Run is regulated at the state level, with permits, inspections, and enforcement mechanisms in place to safeguard its operations. The dam's location on the SAWMILL RUN river/stream contributes to its role in managing drainage and surface water in the area. With a drainage area of 3 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 144 acre-feet, Sawmill Run plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks and maintaining water resources in the region.
As a significant structure in the Buffalo District, Sawmill Run serves as a vital component of the local water management infrastructure. With its strategic design and purpose, the dam contributes to the overall environmental and hydrological balance of the area. Monitoring its condition, hazard potential, and emergency preparedness are essential aspects of ensuring the resilience and sustainability of Sawmill Run 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 Sawmill Run -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muddy Creek Near Portersville | 69 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Near Freeport | 323 cfs | → |
| Slippery Rock Creek At Wurtemburg | 534 cfs | → |
| Connoquenessing Creek Near Zelienople | 211 cfs | → |
| Allegheny River At Natrona | 16,400 cfs | → |
| Beaver River At Beaver Falls | 3,380 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sawmill Run.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
Track Sawmill Run 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 Sawmill Run
Where does the data for Sawmill Run 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 Sawmill Run.