South Fork Dam

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/south-fork-dam

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the dam type?Earthenwork dam
2. What is the associated reservoir?Lake Conemaugh (formerly Western Reservoir)
3. What was the South Fork Dam built to do?The dam was built to hold back water from the Little Conemaugh River and create Lake Conemaugh, a private lake for the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club.
4. Why did the South Fork Dam break in 1889?Heavy rain made the dam reach its limit, and the dam had been altered and not kept well, so it weakened and collapsed.

Earthenwork Dam: A dam constructed primarily from compacted soil and rock, relying on mass and internal friction for stability.
Catastrophic Failure: A sudden and complete structural collapse resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life.
Reservoir: An artificial or natural lake used to store water, often created by a dam.
Civil Engineering: The branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction, and maintenance of public works such as roads, bridges, and dams.