Glatco Lake dam
Glatco Lake
Glatco Lake, located in Heidelberg Township, York, Pennsylvania, is a private recreational lake regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. With a dam height of 20 feet and a storage capacity of 73 acre-feet, the lake covers a surface area of 6 acres and drains an area of 0.35 square miles through TR Oil Creek. The primary purpose of the lake is recreation, offering visitors a tranquil and scenic environment for various water activities.
Despite its picturesque setting, Glatco Lake has a high hazard potential and an unsatisfactory condition assessment, indicating potential risks associated with its dam structure. The last inspection in March 2021 revealed the need for improvements to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam. While the lake has not been modified in recent years, it remains crucial for the regulatory agency to monitor and enforce safety measures to mitigate any potential hazards and protect surrounding communities.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Glatco Lake can appreciate its contribution to local recreation and its ecological significance within the region. As a privately owned water body, the lake serves as a reminder of the importance of proper dam maintenance and regulatory oversight to ensure the safety of both the environment and the public. With ongoing inspections and potential risk management measures, Glatco Lake represents a balancing act between human enjoyment and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Glatco Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Codorus Creek At Spring Grove | 41 cfs | → |
| West Conewago Creek At East Berlin | 116 cfs | → |
| Codorus Creek Near York | 200 cfs | → |
| Gunpowder Falls At Hoffmanville | 24 cfs | → |
| Bermudian Creek At Oxford Road Nr Heidlersburg | 6 cfs | → |
| Grave Run Near Beckleysville | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Glatco Lake.
Boat launches
- Codorus State Park Mooring Cove
- Codorus State Park Hidden Cove
- Codorus State Park Smith Station Road
- Marina Area, Codorus State Park
- Codorus State Park Main Launch
- Codorus State Park Wonder Cove
Campgrounds
- Camp Conewago - Boy Scouts Of America
- Pine Grove Furnace State Park
- Primitive Campsite #5
- Primitive Campsite #7
- Primitive Campsite #6
- Primitive Campsite #4
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Glatco Lake 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 Glatco Lake
Where does the data for Glatco Lake 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 Glatco Lake.