Laurel Highlands Baptist Camp dam
Laurel Highlands Baptist Camp
Laurel Highlands Baptist Camp, located in Somerset, Pennsylvania, is a private recreational facility situated in Jefferson Township along the Gross Run river. The camp is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and holds permits for operation, inspection, and enforcement. The primary purpose of the camp's earth dam, completed in 1982, is for recreational use, with a height of 24 feet and a storage capacity of 53 acre-feet.
The dam at Laurel Highlands Baptist Camp spans 670 feet in length and covers a surface area of 4 acres, serving a drainage area of 0.5 square miles. Despite being classified with a high hazard potential, the dam is in fair condition as of the last inspection in September 2020. The camp's emergency action plan status and risk assessment measures are currently unspecified, indicating a potential area for improvement in ensuring the safety and security of the site.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Laurel Highlands Baptist Camp offers a fascinating case study in dam infrastructure management and environmental regulation. With its scenic location and recreational focus, the camp's earth dam presents both challenges and opportunities in balancing water storage needs with safety considerations. As a privately owned facility under state jurisdiction, the camp serves as a valuable example of how water resources can be managed for recreational purposes while adhering to regulatory standards and ensuring public safety.
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 Laurel Highlands Baptist Camp -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Linn Run At Linn Run State Park Near Rector | 9 cfs | → |
| Casselman River At Markleton | 156 cfs | → |
| Laurel Hill Creek At Ursina | 81 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River Below Confluence | 789 cfs | → |
| Loyalhanna Creek At Kingston | 131 cfs | → |
| Youghiogheny River At Youghiogheny River Dam | 448 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Laurel Highlands Baptist Camp.
Boat launches
- Laurel Hill Lake
- Lake Somerset
- Lake Donegal #2 - Lake Under Drawdown
- Lake Donegal #1 - Lake Under Drawdown
Campgrounds
- Kooser State Park
- Laurel Hill State Park
- Camp Ligonier
- Quemahoning Family Rec Area
- Paddler's Lane Campground
- Kentuck Campground
Fishing spots
- Frostburg Reservoir
- Sand Spring Run
- Jennings Run
- Bruceton Mills Public Fishing Area
- Wills Creek
- Georges Creek
Track Laurel Highlands Baptist Camp 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 Laurel Highlands Baptist Camp
Where does the data for Laurel Highlands Baptist Camp 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 Laurel Highlands Baptist Camp.