Core Creek (pa-620)
Core Creek (pa-620) is an earth dam located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, built in 1976. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Core Creek (pa-620)
The primary purpose of Core Creek (pa-620) is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Bucks County Commissioners (local government). It impounds the Core Creek.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 860 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 150 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,599 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/15/2020.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Bucks |
| River/Stream | Core Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.19639, -74.91917 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 860 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,599 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,599 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,476 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 150 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUCKS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/15/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00802 |
| Federal ID | PA00802 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |