Shenango Dam
Shenango Dam is a gravity dam located in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Shenango Dam
The primary purpose of Shenango 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 Shenango River near Sharpsville.
The dam stands 68 feet tall and stretches 720 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,560 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 351,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 589 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 10/27/2022.
At 68 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 | Mercer |
| Nearest City | Sharpsville |
| River/Stream | Shenango River |
| Coordinates | 41.26442, -80.46218 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Length | 720 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 351,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 351,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 29,920 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,560 acres |
| Drainage Area | 589 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 64,000 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 | 10/27/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00111 |
| Federal ID | PA00111 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |