Susquehanna Woods Lower dam
Susquehanna Woods Lower
Susquehanna Woods Lower is a locally-owned dam in Abington Township, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, designed for flood risk reduction along the TR Sandy Run. Completed in 2005, this earth dam stands at a height of 14 feet and has a length of 500 feet, providing a storage capacity of 20 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, it also serves recreational purposes within the community.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Susquehanna Woods Lower is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state to ensure its safety and effectiveness. Despite being assessed as in fair condition with a high hazard potential, the dam is regularly monitored and maintained, with the last inspection conducted in October 2019. While there are no associated structures or emergency action plans in place, the dam's primary function remains crucial in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Susquehanna Woods Lower represents a vital infrastructure for flood control and community safety in Montgomery, Pennsylvania. As a locally-owned structure with state oversight, its role in managing the TR Sandy Run watershed highlights the importance of proactive dam management and regulatory enforcement to mitigate flood risks and protect downstream areas. With ongoing assessments and inspections, the dam continues to play a significant role in safeguarding the local environment and enhancing recreational opportunities for residents.
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 Susquehanna Woods Lower -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wissahickon Creek At Fort Washington | 35 cfs | → |
| Pennypack Creek Trib At Hatboro | 1 cfs | → |
| Pennypack Creek At Pine Road | 49 cfs | → |
| Tacony Creek At County Line | 23 cfs | → |
| L Neshaminy Cr At Valley Road Nr Neshaminy | 14 cfs | → |
| Frankford Creek At Castor Ave | 41 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Susquehanna Woods Lower.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Susquehanna Woods Lower 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 Susquehanna Woods Lower
Where does the data for Susquehanna Woods Lower 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 Susquehanna Woods Lower.