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 The Pittsburgh District operates
and maintains 16 flood control
projects. These are dams which hold a pool of water behind,
forming a lake. Eight earthen, seven concrete and one
combination dam store runoff from rainfall and snowmelt
events. The stored runoff is then released in a
controlled process to prevent or reduce flood damages
throughout the District.
The 16 projects cost approximately $500 million
to construct. Since the first, Tygart Lake, was built in 1938, the projects
are estimated to have prevented nearly $8.8 billion in flood
damages - a return of over $17 for every dollar spent.
Besides
flood control benefits, these sites provide abundant natural
resources and recreational opportunities. The 16 lake projects
total approximately 120,000 acres and include 31,100 acres
of surface water at summer (recreation) pool. Each offers
a unique recreational experience.
For more
information on individual lakes click on the project name in
the list below or visit the
Pittsburgh
District Corps Lake Visitor's Gateway.
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