Washington No 3
Washington No 3 is an earth dam located in Washington County, Pennsylvania, built in 1895. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Washington No 3
The primary purpose of Washington No 3 is grade stabilization. Grade stabilization dams prevent erosion by reducing the slope and velocity of water flowing through a channel. They're commonly used to stop gullies from deepening and to protect downstream land and infrastructure. The dam is owned by Cnx Land, Inc (private). It impounds the Tr Chartiers Creek.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 1,020 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 41 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 482 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1895, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/27/2019.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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 | Washington |
| River/Stream | Tr Chartiers Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.14500, -80.26417 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,020 ft |
| Year Completed | 1895 (131 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 482 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 482 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 318 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 41 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Grade Stabilization |
| Owner | CNX LAND, INC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/27/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00510 |
| Federal ID | PA00510 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |