Sterling Drug dam
Sterling Drug
Sterling Drug, a private dam located in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction along the Doe Run river. With a dam height of 18.5 feet and a length of 1200 feet, Sterling Drug's primary purpose is to minimize the impact of potential flooding events in the region. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, highlighting the need for improved maintenance and monitoring.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Sterling Drug is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam has a storage capacity of 55 acre-feet and is primarily constructed of earth and buttress core types. Although the last inspection took place in November 2020, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment measures remain unclear, indicating potential areas for further improvement to ensure its resilience in the face of changing climate and water resource challenges.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to monitor and support the upkeep of critical infrastructure like Sterling Drug to safeguard communities and ecosystems from the impacts of extreme weather events. By enhancing emergency preparedness, conducting regular inspections, and implementing risk management measures, stakeholders can work together to sustainably manage water resources and mitigate the potential risks associated with aging dams like Sterling Drug.
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 Sterling Drug -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Perkiomen Creek At Graterford | 214 cfs | → |
| Valley Creek At Pa Turnpike Br Near Valley Forge | 28 cfs | → |
| French Creek Near Phoenixville | 18 cfs | → |
| East Branch Perkiomen Creek Near Schwenksville | 40 cfs | → |
| Schuylkill River At Norristown | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Schuylkill River At Pottstown | 980 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sterling Drug.
Boat launches
- Phoenixville
- Arcola Rd 3506, Lower Providence Township
- Spring City
- Betzwood
- Limerick Township
- Norristown Riverfront Park
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Sterling Drug 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 Sterling Drug
Where does the data for Sterling Drug 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 Sterling Drug.