C.w. Bill Young Lock and Dam is a gravity dam located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, built in 1934. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall and 1,550 ft long, taller than 82% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About C.w. Bill Young Lock and Dam
The primary purpose of C.w. Bill Young Lock and Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by USACE - Pittsburgh District (federal). It impounds the Allegheny River near Oakmont.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 1,550 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,220 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 16,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11,537 square miles. Completed in 1934, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/10/2023.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Allegheny |
| Nearest City | Oakmont |
| River/Stream | Allegheny River |
| Coordinates | 40.53820, -79.81537 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,550 ft |
| Year Completed | 1934 (92 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 16,800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,220 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11,537 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 200,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Pittsburgh District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 10/10/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00113 |
| Federal ID | PA00113 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |