Penallen is an earth dam located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, built in 1982. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 12 ft12 ft tall and 400 ft long. 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 Penallen
The primary purpose of Penallen 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 United Parcel Service (private). It impounds the Tr Pennypack Creek.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 16 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1982, the structure is 44 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 10/10/2012. That was over 14 years ago.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Montgomery |
| River/Stream | Tr Pennypack Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.16250, -75.13806 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1982 (44 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | United Parcel Service |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/10/2012 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA01888 |
| Federal ID | PA01888 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |