Union City Dam is a
unique member in a series 16 of flood control projects in the Pittsburgh
District. Located on French Creek among the rolling hills of Erie
County, the Union City project is the only dry-bed reservoir in the
District.
Authorized by the Flood
Control Act of 1962, the dam was completed in 1971 and provides flood
protection for the French Creek Valley and to a lesser degree the
Allegheny River below Franklin, Pa. Union City Dam has the capability
of storing the equivalent run-off of 4.08 inches of precipitation from
its 222 square mile drainage area. The flood prevention benefits
provide by the project since its completion are estimated to be over $59
million.
Although Union City
does not provide for typical lake-related activities, it does offer
visitors the unusual opportunity to observe the process by which this
dry-bed reservoir becomes a lake. The dam functions as an uncontrolled
detention structure that automatically stores and releases water during
period of peak flow. A 520 foot long concrete conduit, 4.5 feet wide by
8 feet high, runs through the base of the dam to allow for uncontrolled
discharge of waters. The conduit permits normal flows of French Creek
to pass through unimpeded. When the amount of water entering the
reservoir, however, exceeds the dam’s capacity to discharge it through
the drainage conduit a temporary lake is formed.
If the flow of waters
into the lake fills the reservoir to capacity the excess waters are then
discharged into a side-channel spillway constructed through the right
abutment of the dam. The spillway was designed with a discharge
capacity capable of handing the maximum flow of record at the dam site
(14,900 cubic feet per second on April 5, 1947). At maximum flood pool
Union City Reservoir will extend 7.4 miles up French Creek and cover
2,290 acres. As the water inflow decreases, the stored water gradually
drains out, and once again the reservoir becomes dry.
The lake forming
process usually occurs during later winter and early spring as a result
of melting snow and spring rains. The resulting lake usually lasts only
for two or three weeks. However, if ever authorized by Congress the
present outlet facilities at Union City Reservoir could be modified to
permit the creation of a summer pool of 580 acres.
Lake and
Dam Statistics
Location:
On French Creek, about 71.5 miles upstream from its junction with
the Allegheny River at Franklin, Pa. The reservoir is located
entirely in Erie County. |
|
Project area,
acres |
2,684 |
Drainage area
above dam, square miles |
222 |
Construction cost |
$14,559,000 |
|
|
Dam |
|
Type of
structure:
rolled earth embankment |
|
Height above
streambed, feet |
88 |
Length, feet |
1,420 |
Width at base,
feet |
560 |
Outlet Works:
concrete lined tunnel 19’ in diameter and 1,875’ in length. The
tunnel passes through the hill near the right abutment of the dam. |
|
|
|
Lake |
|
Length at maximum
pool, miles |
7.4 |
Area at maximum
pool, acres: |
2,290 |
Elevation, feet
above sea level: |
|
Maximum
(reservoir full) |
1,210 |
Streambed at
dam |
1,278 |
Vicinity
Map
Union City Dam
is three miles west of Union City, Pa. Travel west from Union City on
Pennsylvania Route 97 and turn right onto Middleton Road. The dam is on
the left.
Recreation
If out for an
afternoon's drive sightseeing, why not stop at the
Union City Dam and have a
picnic with family and friends? Picnickers can relax in the quiet rural
surroundings and enjoy the scenery and view of the dam. Picnic tables,
grills and restroom facilities are provided and disabled visitors will
find the tables and restroom wheelchair accessible.
The Union City Dam
provides visitors with the chance to enjoy a number of outdoor
recreational opportunities. The different types of habitat and
ecosystems that can be found at the project provide hikers, bird
watchers and the novice naturalist with a diversity of flora and fauna
to discover and enjoy.
French Creek entices
many
fishermen to the project to
test their angling skills against game fish such as northern pike,
walleye and muskie. There is also an abundance of smallmouth bass and
panfish in the creek and trout in many of the creek's feeder streams.
Hunting is also a popular pastime at the Union City Dam. Deer,
turkey, small game and waterfowl are plentiful and provide hunters with
many exciting opportunities and experiences.
Facilities &
Activities
|
Dam
Site |
Drinking Water |
X |
Parking |
X |
Picnic
Area |
X |
Restroom
Facilities |
X |
Accessible
Restroom |
X |
Links
of Interest
|