Cave Hollow
Cave Hollow is an earth dam located in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, built in 1926. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Cave Hollow
The primary purpose of Cave Hollow is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Borough Of Fairchance (local government). It impounds the Cave Hollow Run.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 190 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 15 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1926, 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/26/2019.
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 | Fayette |
| River/Stream | Cave Hollow Run |
| Coordinates | 39.81472, -79.72944 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 190 ft |
| Year Completed | 1926 (100 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 15 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | BOROUGH OF FAIRCHANCE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/26/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00208 |
| Federal ID | PA00208 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |