Upper Ridge dam
Upper Ridge
Upper Ridge is a vital water supply dam located in Derry Township, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. Built in 1915, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet, with a length of 165 feet, and a storage capacity of 9 acre-feet. It serves the primary purpose of providing water supply to the local community, with a normal storage capacity of 7.5 acre-feet and a drainage area of 1.31 square miles.
Despite its historical significance and importance for water resource management, Upper Ridge is currently classified as having a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulates this dam, ensuring that state inspection, permitting, and enforcement are in place to manage any risks associated with its operation. With its location along the McGee Run river, Upper Ridge is a critical infrastructure that requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and reliability for the surrounding area.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, enthusiasts and stakeholders in the water sector are closely following the status of dams like Upper Ridge. With its outdated condition assessment and high hazard potential, there is a pressing need for improved risk management measures, including the development of emergency action plans and regular inspection protocols. The future of Upper Ridge will depend on proactive measures taken by the relevant authorities to address its vulnerabilities and ensure the safety of the community it serves.
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 Ridge -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Loyalhanna Creek At Kingston | 203 cfs | → |
| Conemaugh River At Tunnelton | 1,220 cfs | → |
| Linn Run At Linn Run State Park Near Rector | 11 cfs | → |
| Blacklick Creek At Josephine | 173 cfs | → |
| Loyalhanna Creek At Loyalhanna Dam | 221 cfs | → |
| Two Lick Creek At Graceton | 131 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Ridge.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Camp Ligonier
- Keystone State Park
- Antiochian Village Camp
- Bush
- Kooser State Park
- Quemahoning Family Rec Area
Fishing spots
- Frostburg Reservoir
- Sand Spring Run
- Bruceton Mills Public Fishing Area
- Jennings Run
- Wills Creek
- Evitts Creek
Paddle runs
Track Upper Ridge 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 Ridge
Where does the data for Upper Ridge 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 Ridge.