Railroad Creek (pa-615)
Railroad Creek (pa-615) is an earth dam located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, built in 1977. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Railroad Creek (pa-615)
The primary purpose of Railroad Creek (pa-615) is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Bucks County Commissioners (local government). It impounds the Railroad Creek.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 1,170 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,610 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 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 04/16/2020.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% 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 | Bucks |
| River/Stream | Railroad Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.28722, -75.23222 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,170 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,610 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,610 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUCKS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/16/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA01062 |
| Federal ID | PA01062 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |