Sonneborn (witco) Reservoir
Sonneborn (witco) Reservoir is an earth dam located in Butler County, Pennsylvania, built in 1951. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Sonneborn (witco) Reservoir
The primary purpose of Sonneborn (witco) Reservoir is grade stabilization. Grade stabilization dams prevent erosion by reducing the slope and velocity of water flowing through a channel. They're commonly used to stop gullies from deepening and to protect downstream land and infrastructure. The dam is owned by Sonneborn, Llc (private). It impounds the Tr South Branch Bear Creek.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 280 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 55 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1951, the structure is well into its service life at over 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 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 09/16/2020.
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 | Butler |
| River/Stream | Tr South Branch Bear Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.01417, -79.72139 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 280 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 19 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Grade Stabilization |
| Owner | SONNEBORN, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/16/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA01359 |
| Federal ID | PA01359 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |