Dashields Locks and Dam is a gravity dam located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, built in 1929. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 44 ft44 ft tall and 1,799 ft long, taller than 89% 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 Dashields Locks and Dam
The primary purpose of Dashields 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 Ohio River near Glenwillard.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 1,799 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,210 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 17,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 19,522 square miles. Completed in 1929, 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 11/03/2021.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Allegheny |
| Nearest City | Glenwillard |
| River/Stream | Ohio River |
| Coordinates | 40.54976, -80.20509 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,799 ft |
| Year Completed | 1929 (97 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 17,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 17,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 17,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,210 acres |
| Drainage Area | 19,522 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 235,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Pittsburgh District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/03/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00127 |
| Federal ID | PA00127 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |