Braddock Locks and Dam is a gravity dam located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, built in 1905. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 960 ft long, taller than 76% 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 Braddock Locks and Dam
The primary purpose of Braddock Locks 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 Monongahela River near Braddock.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 960 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,190 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7,342 square miles. Completed in 1905, the structure is over a century old.
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 05/05/2023.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Allegheny |
| Nearest City | Braddock |
| River/Stream | Monongahela River |
| Coordinates | 40.39053, -79.85800 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 960 ft |
| Year Completed | 1905 (121 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,190 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7,342 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 110,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Pittsburgh District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 05/05/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00120 |
| Federal ID | PA00120 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |