Pa-486
Pa-486 is an earth dam located in Washington County, Pennsylvania, built in 1979. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Pa-486
The primary purpose of Pa-486 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 Washington County (local government). It impounds the Paris Run.
The dam stands 86 feet tall and stretches 440 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 750 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 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 11/04/2020.
At 86 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Paris Run |
| Coordinates | 40.37500, -80.51556 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 86 ft |
| Dam Height | 86 ft |
| Dam Length | 440 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 750 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 750 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 34 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | WASHINGTON COUNTY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/04/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00910 |
| Federal ID | PA00910 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |