Dutch Fork
Dutch Fork is an earth dam located in Washington County, Pennsylvania, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Dutch Fork
The primary purpose of Dutch Fork is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Pa Fish & Boat Commission (state). It impounds the Dutch Fork Buffalo Creek.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 460 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 91 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,850 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1959, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/23/2021.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% 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 | Washington |
| River/Stream | Dutch Fork Buffalo Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.14583, -80.46750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 460 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,850 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,850 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 730 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 91 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | PA FISH & BOAT COMMISSION |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/23/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00490 |
| Federal ID | PA00490 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |