Loyalhanna Dam is a gravity dam located in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, built in 1942. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 120 ft120 ft tall and 960 ft long, taller than 98% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Loyalhanna Dam
The primary purpose of Loyalhanna 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 Loyalhanna Creek near Saltsburg.
The dam stands 120 feet tall and stretches 960 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 210 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 127,556 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 290 square miles. Completed in 1942, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 01/13/2026.
At 120 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Westmoreland |
| Nearest City | Saltsburg |
| River/Stream | Loyalhanna Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.45684, -79.45148 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 120 ft |
| Dam Length | 960 ft |
| Year Completed | 1942 (84 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 127,556 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 127,556 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 210 acres |
| Drainage Area | 290 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 106,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Pittsburgh District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 01/13/2026 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00106 |
| Federal ID | PA00106 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |