Hilltown (Pa-625) dam
Hilltown (Pa-625)
Hilltown (Pa-625) is a crucial earth dam located in Hilltown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1980. This dam serves as a flood risk reduction structure along the West Branch of Neshaminy Creek, with a height of 42 feet and a length of 1140 feet. It has a storage capacity of 855 acre-feet, providing essential protection for the surrounding area with a drainage area of 2.8 square miles.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Hilltown (Pa-625) is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state agencies to ensure its proper functioning and safety. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently in fair condition, with its last inspection date recorded in April 2020. Its emergency action plan status and risk assessment measures are yet to be determined, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and management of this critical infrastructure.
As a significant flood risk reduction structure in the region, Hilltown (Pa-625) plays a vital role in protecting the community from potential disasters. With its strategic location and effective design, this dam serves as a testament to the collaborative efforts between local and federal agencies in safeguarding water resources and mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events in the area.
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 Hilltown (Pa-625) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nb Neshaminy Cr Bl Lake Galena Nr New Britain | 70 cfs | → |
| Nb Neshaminy Creek At Chalfont | 21 cfs | → |
| East Branch Perkiomen Creek Near Dublin | 14 cfs | → |
| East Branch Perkiomen Creek Near Schwenksville | 40 cfs | → |
| L Neshaminy Cr At Valley Road Nr Neshaminy | 14 cfs | → |
| Perkiomen Creek At Graterford | 214 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hilltown (Pa-625).
Boat launches
- Three Mile Run
- Main Marina
- Tohickon
- Norristown Riverfront Park
- Arcola Rd 3506, Lower Providence Township
- Haycock
Track Hilltown (Pa-625) 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 Hilltown (Pa-625)
Where does the data for Hilltown (Pa-625) 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 Hilltown (Pa-625).