East Branch Dam
East Branch Dam is an earth dam located in Elk County, Pennsylvania, built in 1952. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About East Branch Dam
The primary purpose of East Branch Dam 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 Usace - Pittsburgh District (federal). It impounds the Clarion River near Johnsonburg.
The dam stands 184 feet tall and stretches 1,725 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,160 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 103,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 72 square miles. Completed in 1952, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/29/2022.
At 184 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Elk |
| Nearest City | Johnsonburg |
| River/Stream | Clarion River |
| Coordinates | 41.55892, -78.59374 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 184 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,725 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 103,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 103,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 65,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,160 acres |
| Drainage Area | 72 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 67,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Pittsburgh District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 04/29/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00104 |
| Federal ID | PA00104 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |