Silver Creek Reservoir is an earth dam located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, built in 1850. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 38 ft38 ft tall and 1,000 ft long, taller than 84% 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 Silver Creek Reservoir
The primary purpose of Silver Creek Reservoir 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 the Township of Blythe (local government). It impounds the Silver Creek.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 49 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 850 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1850, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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 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 11/05/2020.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 84% 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 | Schuylkill |
| River/Stream | Silver Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.75389, -76.12889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1850 (176 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 850 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 850 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 640 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 49 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Municipal Authority of the Township of Blythe |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/05/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00665 |
| Federal ID | PA00665 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |