Sheppard Myers
Sheppard Myers is an earth dam located in York County, Pennsylvania, built in 1933. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Sheppard Myers
The primary purpose of Sheppard Myers 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 Hanover Municipal Water Works (local government). It impounds the South Branch Conewago Creek.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 760 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 58 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,213 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1933, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 03/12/2021.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% 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 | York |
| River/Stream | South Branch Conewago Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.73472, -76.96056 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 760 ft |
| Year Completed | 1933 (93 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,213 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,213 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 620 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 58 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | HANOVER MUNICIPAL WATER WORKS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/12/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00337 |
| Federal ID | PA00337 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |