J C Bacon
J C Bacon is an earth dam located in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About J C Bacon
The primary purpose of J C Bacon 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 Ambridge Water Authority (local government). It impounds the Service Creek.
The dam stands 96 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 418 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 15,524 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1956, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 12/14/2020.
At 96 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Beaver |
| River/Stream | Service Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.57722, -80.34583 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 15,524 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15,524 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10,863 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 418 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | AMBRIDGE WATER AUTHORITY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/14/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00260 |
| Federal ID | PA00260 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |