Mill Creek Detention Basin dam
Mill Creek Detention Basin
The Mill Creek Detention Basin, located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, serves as a critical infrastructure for flood risk reduction along the TR Pennypack Creek. Completed in 1986, this buttress-type dam stands at a height of 11 feet and has a storage capacity of 43 acre-feet. Managed by the local government of Upper Moreland Township, this detention basin plays a crucial role in mitigating flooding risks in the area.
With a high hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the Mill Creek Detention Basin is regularly inspected to ensure its effectiveness in protecting the surrounding community. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection oversees the regulatory aspects, including permitting, inspection, and enforcement, to maintain the dam's structural integrity and functionality. Despite its modest size, this detention basin plays a significant role in safeguarding the local area from potential flood events, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management practices in addressing climate-related challenges.
As climate change continues to impact weather patterns and increase the frequency of extreme rainfall events, structures like the Mill Creek Detention Basin become increasingly essential in safeguarding communities against flood risks. The dedication of local government and state agencies in ensuring the proper management and maintenance of this critical infrastructure underscores the importance of proactive measures in adapting to a changing climate. By prioritizing flood risk reduction and investing in resilient water resource management strategies, the Mill Creek Detention Basin serves as a model for sustainable infrastructure development in the face of climate uncertainty.
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 Mill Creek Detention Basin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pennypack Creek Trib At Hatboro | 1 cfs | → |
| L Neshaminy Cr At Valley Road Nr Neshaminy | 14 cfs | → |
| Pennypack Creek At Pine Road | 49 cfs | → |
| Wissahickon Creek At Fort Washington | 35 cfs | → |
| Tacony Creek At County Line | 23 cfs | → |
| Neshaminy Creek Near Rushland | 73 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mill Creek Detention Basin.
Track Mill Creek Detention Basin 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 Mill Creek Detention Basin
Where does the data for Mill Creek Detention Basin 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 Mill Creek Detention Basin.