Westtown

Westtown is an earth dam located in Chester County, Pennsylvania, built in 1912. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Westtown

The primary purpose of Westtown is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Westtown School (private). It impounds the Hickman Run.

The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 633 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 75 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1912, the structure is over a century 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 03/27/2019.

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Significant HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StatePennsylvania
CountyChester
River/StreamHickman Run
Coordinates39.95028, -75.54500

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height14 ft
Dam Height14 ft
Dam Length633 ft
Year Completed1912 (114 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage75 acre-ft
Max Storage75 acre-ft
Normal Storage43 acre-ft
Surface Area14 acres
Drainage Area1 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerWESTTOWN SCHOOL
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection03/27/2019
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDPA01895
Federal IDPA01895
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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