Canonsburg No 2 is an earth dam located in Washington County, Pennsylvania, built in 1932. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall and 630 ft long, taller than 82% 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 embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Canonsburg No 2
The primary purpose of Canonsburg No 2 is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Peters Township (local government). It impounds the Johnsons Run.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 630 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 44 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 825 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1932, 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 09/25/2020.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% 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 | Johnsons Run |
| Coordinates | 40.25417, -80.11528 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 630 ft |
| Year Completed | 1932 (94 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 825 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 825 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 525 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 44 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Peters Township |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/25/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00506 |
| Federal ID | PA00506 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |