Lincoln Avenue Detention Basin dam
Lincoln Avenue Detention Basin
Located in Downingtown Borough, Pennsylvania, the Lincoln Avenue Detention Basin serves as a crucial infrastructure for flood risk reduction along the TR East Branch Brandywine Creek. Completed in 2007, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 13 feet and spans a length of 875 feet, with a storage capacity of 40 acre-feet. The basin covers a surface area of 4 acres and has a drainage area of 0.27 square miles, providing essential protection against potential inundation in the region.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Lincoln Avenue Detention Basin is subject to regular state inspections, ensuring its structural integrity and functionality. With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment, this detention basin plays a vital role in safeguarding the surrounding community from the impacts of flooding. As part of its flood risk reduction purpose, the basin has been modified in 2010 to enhance its hydraulic capabilities, further enhancing its effectiveness in managing stormwater runoff during extreme weather events.
Supported by local government ownership and regulatory oversight, the Lincoln Avenue Detention Basin exemplifies a proactive approach to water resource management and climate resilience in Chester County, Pennsylvania. With its strategic location and critical role in flood risk mitigation, this infrastructure serves as a testament to the importance of sustainable water infrastructure in safeguarding communities against the impacts of a changing climate.
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 Lincoln Avenue Detention Basin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Branch Brandywine Creek Near Downingtown | 34 cfs | → |
| East Branch Brandywine Creek Below Downingtown | 50 cfs | → |
| Marsh Creek Near Downingtown | 5 cfs | → |
| Broad Run At Northbrook | 25 cfs | → |
| West Branch Brandywine Creek At Modena | 26 cfs | → |
| Marsh Creek Near Glenmoore | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lincoln Avenue Detention Basin.
Boat launches
- West Side-Lyndell
- Chambers Lake
- Struble Lake
- Phoenixville
- Spring City
- Hopewell Lake-French Creek State Park
Campgrounds
- Harmony Hill Wilderness Area Campsite
- William Penn State Forest Designated Campsite
- Camp Laughing Waters
- Red Run Campground
- Tinicum Island Primitive Campsite
- Lazy K Campground
Fishing spots
Track Lincoln Avenue 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 Lincoln Avenue Detention Basin
Where does the data for Lincoln Avenue 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 Lincoln Avenue Detention Basin.