Robinson Fork (pa-647)
Robinson Fork (pa-647) is an earth dam located in Washington County, Pennsylvania, built in 1977. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Robinson Fork (pa-647)
The primary purpose of Robinson Fork (pa-647) 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 Ohio County Commission (local government). It impounds the Robinson Fork Wheeling Creek.
The dam stands 95 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 33 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 22 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 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 01/22/2021.
At 95 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Robinson Fork Wheeling Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.96444, -80.50750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 279 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 33 acres |
| Drainage Area | 22 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | OHIO COUNTY COMMISSION |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/22/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00821 |
| Federal ID | PA00821 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |