William L. Cochran Impounding
William L. Cochran Impounding is an earth dam located in Blair County, Pennsylvania, built in 1898. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About William L. Cochran Impounding
The primary purpose of William L. Cochran Impounding 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 Altoona Water Authority (local government). It impounds the Burgoon Run.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 43 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,420 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1898, 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 05/19/2020.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Blair |
| River/Stream | Burgoon Run |
| Coordinates | 40.49528, -78.46833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1898 (128 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,420 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,420 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,120 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 43 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | ALTOONA WATER AUTHORITY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/19/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00529 |
| Federal ID | PA00529 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |