Regional Flood Control Dams

The Chester County Water Resources Authority owns and operates four regional flood control facilities and the Chambers Lake Reservoir (see map).


NRCS Dams Rehabilitation Projects


Two separate, but concurrent, rehabilitation projects are underway on Beaver Creek Dam and Hibernia Dam. The projects are being conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, which was the federal sponsor of both dams when they were constructed.

For additional information regarding the rehabilitation projects, please review the materials posted on these web pages:
Hibernia Dam

Quick Facts of CCWRA's Dams


  • Robert G. Struble, Sr. Dam and Regional Flood Control Facility
    • Location - East Branch Brandywine Creek, Honey Brook Township
    • Year Completed - 1970
    • Total Flood Storage Capacity - 191 million gallons
  • Beaver Creek Regional Flood Control Facility
    • Location - Beaver Creek (East Branch Brandywine Creek watershed),
      West Brandywine and East Brandywine Townships
    • Year Completed - 1974
    • Total Flood Storage Capacity - 170 million gallons
  • Barneston Regional Flood Control Facility
    • Location - East Branch Brandywine Creek, Wallace Township
    • Year Completed - 1983
    • Total Flood Storage Capacity - 511 million gallons
  • Hibernia Regional Flood Control Facility
    • Location - Birch Run (West Branch Brandywine Creek watershed), West Caln Township
    • Year Completed - 1994
    • Total Flood Storage Capacity - 257 million gallons
  • Chambers Lake Reservoir
    • Location - Birch Run (West Branch Brandywine Creek watershed), West Caln Township
    • Year Completed - 1994
    • Total Water Supply Storage Capacity - 344 million gallons.
These four facilities were designed to work as a combined system to reduce flooding in the Brandywine Creek watershed. The four facilities provide flood reduction for all or portions of over 4,100 properties with an estimated cumulative assessed property value of approximately $427 million. The Authority implements a rigorous management and maintenance program to maintain the structural and operating integrity of the structures consistent with their design standards. In addition, the Authority owns and manages over 200 acres of riparian lands and easements as well as wetlands and two lakes associated with its flood control and reservoir facilities. Great care is taken to manage these resources in a manner that protects their environmental integrity and supports their natural resources while providing for public safety.


Managed Public Use Lands at our Facilities



Emergency Action Plans


An Emergency Action Plan has been developed for each of the four dams listed above. A copy of the plans, including the inundation maps noting areas subject to flooding in the event of failure, are available for public inspection at the office of the Chester County Water Resources Authority and the offices of the municipalities which are part of the inundation zone.

Additional information about these plans, as well as a list of municipalities which are part of the inundation zone can be found on CCWRA's Emergency Action Plans web page.


Watershed-Based Flood Protection


The Authority's flood control projects were planned, designed and constructed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service under PL 566 and the USDA National Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program. Click here for information on the watershed-based flood control programs, how a watershed dam works, and how flood control dams serve downstream development.