Orchard Hill dam
Orchard Hill
Orchard Hill in Peters Township, Pennsylvania, is a privately owned dam with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 1965, this earth dam stands at 23 feet high and spans 250 feet in length, holding a storage capacity of 10 acre-feet. Situated on TR Peters Creek, Orchard Hill is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its satisfactory condition. With a significant hazard potential, the dam serves as a vital infrastructure for mitigating flood risks in the area.
Despite its functional role in flood risk reduction, Orchard Hill also offers recreational opportunities for the community. With a surface area of 1.1 acres and a drainage area of 0.07 square miles, the dam provides a serene setting for outdoor activities and leisure pursuits. Maintaining a normal storage capacity of 3 acre-feet, Orchard Hill serves as a multi-purpose structure that not only safeguards against flooding but also enhances the quality of life for residents in Peters Township. With its location in Washington County, Pennsylvania, Orchard Hill stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and environmental stewardship.
As a privately owned dam under state jurisdiction, Orchard Hill exemplifies the collaborative efforts between local stakeholders and regulatory agencies to ensure the safety and functionality of critical water infrastructure. With its satisfactory condition assessment and regular inspections, Orchard Hill stands as a model for responsible dam management in the region. Whether it's safeguarding against flood risks or providing recreational opportunities, Orchard Hill plays a vital role in enhancing water resource management and climate resilience in Peters Township and beyond.
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 Orchard Hill -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Monongahela River At Elizabeth | 21,100 cfs | → |
| Chartiers Creek At Carnegie | 607 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River At Sutersville | 12,000 cfs | → |
| Little Pine Creek Near Etna | 6 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Sewickley | 57,800 cfs | → |
| South Fork Tenmile Creek At Jefferson | 554 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Orchard Hill.
Boat launches
- Canonsburg Lake
- Elrama Street
- Howard Street
- Elizabeth Access
- Monongehela Aquatorium
- Glassport Riverfront Park
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
Track Orchard Hill 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 Orchard Hill
Where does the data for Orchard Hill 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 Orchard Hill.