Paradise Lake No 3 dam
Paradise Lake No 3
Paradise Lake No 3 is a private recreational dam located in Redstone Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania, along the TR Dunlap Creek. Built in 1914, this Earth dam stands at 25 feet in height and stretches 215 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 13.94 acre-feet. Despite its picturesque setting, Paradise Lake No 3 is classified as having a significant hazard potential with poor condition assessment, making it a site of concern for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, this dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With a normal storage capacity of 9.42 acre-feet and a surface area of 1.99 acres, Paradise Lake No 3 serves as a recreational oasis for locals and visitors alike. However, its poor condition assessment highlights the need for ongoing maintenance and risk management measures to ensure the safety and longevity of this water resource infrastructure.
As the Huntington District of the US Army Corps of Engineers does not have jurisdiction over Paradise Lake No 3, the responsibility for its upkeep falls on the private owner. With the potential for significant hazard and the lack of a current emergency action plan, there is a pressing need for proactive measures to address the dam's condition and mitigate risks associated with its operation. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, keeping a close eye on the maintenance and management of Paradise Lake No 3 is essential to safeguarding both the environment and public safety 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 Paradise Lake No 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Redstone Creek At Waltersburg | 49 cfs | → |
| Monongahela River Near Masontown | 2,120 cfs | → |
| South Fork Tenmile Creek At Jefferson | 24 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River At Connellsville | 1,090 cfs | → |
| Dunkard Creek At Shannopin | 74 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River At Sutersville | 1,340 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Paradise Lake No 3.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Cedar Creek Trekker Campground
- Tall Oaks Campground
- Chestnut Ridge Regional Park
- Kentuck Campground
- Kentuck - Ohiopyle State Park
- Mason - Dixon Historical Park
Fishing spots
- Bruceton Mills Public Fishing Area
- Deep Creek Lake
- Snowy Creek
- Broadford Lake
- Little Youghiogheny River Reservoir
- Frostburg Reservoir
Track Paradise Lake No 3 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 Paradise Lake No 3
Where does the data for Paradise Lake No 3 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 Significant 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 Paradise Lake No 3.