Heritage Reservation
Heritage Reservation is an earth dam located in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, built in 1979. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Heritage Reservation
The primary purpose of Heritage Reservation is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Laurel Highlands Council, Bsa (private). It impounds the Little Sandy Creek.
The dam stands 66 feet tall and stretches 770 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 252 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 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 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 10/14/2020.
At 66 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Fayette |
| River/Stream | Little Sandy Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.75222, -79.55194 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 66 ft |
| Dam Height | 66 ft |
| Dam Length | 770 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 252 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | LAUREL HIGHLANDS COUNCIL, BSA |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/14/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA01142 |
| Federal ID | PA01142 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |