Crooked Creek Dam
Crooked Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, built in 1940. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Crooked Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Crooked Creek Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Pittsburgh District (federal). It impounds the Crooked Creek near Ford City.
The dam stands 143 feet tall and stretches 1,480 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 350 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 132,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 277 square miles. Completed in 1940, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/12/2021.
At 143 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Pennsylvania dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Armstrong |
| Nearest City | Ford City |
| River/Stream | Crooked Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.71530, -79.51019 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 143 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,480 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 132,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 132,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 350 acres |
| Drainage Area | 277 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 103,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Pittsburgh District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/12/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00102 |
| Federal ID | PA00102 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |