Indian Creek is a masonry dam located in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, built in 1905. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 515 ft long, taller than 86% 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 Indian Creek
The primary purpose of Indian Creek is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (local government). It impounds the Indian Creek.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 515 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 65 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 826 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 109 square miles. Completed in 1905, the structure is over a century 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/29/2020.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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 | Fayette |
| River/Stream | Indian Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.98139, -79.45556 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 515 ft |
| Year Completed | 1905 (121 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 826 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 826 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 706 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
| Drainage Area | 109 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/29/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00199 |
| Federal ID | PA00199 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |