William Penn dam
William Penn
William Penn is a local government-owned dam located in Pike, Pennsylvania, that serves as a recreational site. Built in 1916, this earth dam stands at a height of 10 feet and spans 768 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 59 acre-feet. Situated on the Bark Cabin Run river, it is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and undergoes regular state inspection, enforcement, and permitting to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, William Penn plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for the surrounding community. With a surface area of 8 acres and a drainage area of 0.5 square miles, this dam offers a peaceful retreat for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking outdoor activities. Although it does not have a spillway or locks, the dam is equipped with outlet gates and has an inspection frequency of 5 years to monitor its structural integrity and overall safety.
With its historical significance dating back over a century, William Penn stands as a testament to the importance of proper dam management and maintenance in ensuring public safety and environmental protection. As it continues to be a focal point for recreation in Porter Township, this dam serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between water resource utilization and conservation efforts in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 William Penn -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brodhead Creek Near Analomink | 76 cfs | → |
| Bush Kill At Shoemakers | 123 cfs | → |
| Swiftwater Creek At Swiftwater | 12 cfs | → |
| Brodhead Creek At Minisink Hills | 246 cfs | → |
| Flat Brook Near Flatbrookville Nj | 44 cfs | → |
| Little Bush Kill At Edgemere | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near William Penn.
Boat launches
- Lake Minisink
- Pecks Pond Picnic Area
- Poxono Access Area In Nj
- North Shore Road Greene Township
- Old Route 402 Access
- Little Mud Pond
Campgrounds
- Camp Firestone
- Carpathian Village
- Camp Big Springs
- Camp Great Bend
- Pocono Springs Camp
- Mountain Vista Campground
More reservoirs
Track William Penn 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 William Penn
Where does the data for William Penn 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 Low 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 William Penn.