Ebensburg Storage is an earth dam located in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, built in 1923. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 16 ft16 ft tall and 670 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Ebensburg Storage
The primary purpose of Ebensburg Storage 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 Borough of Ebensburg (local government). It impounds the Howells Run.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 670 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 139 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1923, 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 09/23/2020.
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 | Cambria |
| River/Stream | Howells Run |
| Coordinates | 40.48944, -78.71750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 670 ft |
| Year Completed | 1923 (103 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 139 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 139 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 92 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Borough of Ebensburg |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/23/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00442 |
| Federal ID | PA00442 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |