Woodcock Creek Dam
Woodcock Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Woodcock Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Woodcock Creek 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 Woodcock Creek near Meadville.
The dam stands 90 feet tall and stretches 4,650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 325 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 31,540 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 46 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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 05/08/2024.
At 90 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 | Crawford |
| Nearest City | Meadville |
| River/Stream | Woodcock Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.69730, -80.10219 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 31,540 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 31,540 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,930 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 325 acres |
| Drainage Area | 46 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 24,400 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 | 05/08/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00108 |
| Federal ID | PA00108 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |