Hinckston
Hinckston is an earth dam located in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, built in 1905. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Hinckston
The primary purpose of Hinckston 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 Cambria Somerset Authority (local government). It impounds the Hinckston Run.
The dam stands 84 feet tall and stretches 890 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 104 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,010 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1905, the structure is over a century 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/09/2020.
At 84 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Cambria |
| River/Stream | Hinckston Run |
| Coordinates | 40.37389, -78.88778 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 84 ft |
| Dam Height | 84 ft |
| Dam Length | 890 ft |
| Year Completed | 1905 (121 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,010 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,010 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,340 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 104 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CAMBRIA SOMERSET AUTHORITY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/09/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00430 |
| Federal ID | PA00430 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |