Laurel Run Dam

Laurel Run Dam
Laurel Run dam failure in 1977
Laurel Run Dam is located in Pennsylvania
Laurel Run Dam
Location of Laurel Run Dam in Pennsylvania
LocationWest Taylor Township, Cambria County, near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates40°23′03″N 78°54′56″W / 40.38417°N 78.91556°W / 40.38417; -78.91556
Construction began1915
Opening date1919
Demolition dateJuly 20, 1977
Owner(s)Johnstown Water Authority
Dam and spillways
Type of damEarthen embankment
ImpoundsLaurel Run Creek
Height42 feet (13 m)
Reservoir
CreatesLaurel Run Reservoir
Total capacity101,000,000 US gallons (380,000 m3)
Catchment area18 square miles (47 km2)
Surface area22 acres (89,000 m2)

The Laurel Run Dam, also known as Laurel Run Dam No. 2, was an earthen embankment dam that failed during the Johnstown Flood of 1977. It had the largest reservoir of seven dams to fail between July 19 and 20, 1977 and caused the most fatalities of the two that did. The dam failed in the early morning of July 20 after period of heavy rain, causing 101 million US gallons (380,000 m3) of water to flood downstream Tanneryville, killing 40 people.