Benchley Pond dam
Benchley Pond
Benchley Pond, located in Rome Township, Pennsylvania, is a privately owned water resource regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. This earth dam structure, standing at 8 feet in height, serves as an outlet pond with a storage capacity of 109 acre-feet for a drainage area of 0.5 square miles. Despite its low hazard potential, the pond has not been rated for its condition and was last inspected in June 2015.
The primary purpose of Benchley Pond is identified as "Other," with limited information available on its construction year and specific details such as spillway type, discharge capacity, or surface area. Although the dam is not associated with the US Army Corps of Engineers, it is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement, ensuring compliance with safety standards. With the dam's condition assessment currently listed as "Not Rated," further evaluation and potential risk management measures may be necessary to maintain the structural integrity and functionality of the pond.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Benchley Pond offers a unique case study in private dam ownership and state jurisdiction over water infrastructure. With its location in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, this pond serves as a vital component in local water management and conservation efforts. Monitoring changes in its condition, risk assessment, and emergency preparedness will be essential to ensure the long-term sustainability and safety of this water resource amidst evolving environmental challenges.
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 Benchley Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wappasening Creek Near Windham Center | 18 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River Near Waverly Ny | 4,740 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Towanda | 7,140 cfs | → |
| Chemung River At Chemung Ny | 1,970 cfs | → |
| Towanda Creek Near Monroeton | 123 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Owego Ny | 4,030 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Benchley Pond.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Larnard Hornbrook County Park
- Hickories Park
- Newtown Battlefield State Park
- Sunfish Pond County Park
- Salt Springs State Park
- Park Station Rec Area
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Benchley Pond 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 Benchley Pond
Where does the data for Benchley Pond 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 Benchley Pond.