Funding for this site is provided by:
STATION.--01573560 SWATARA CREEK NEAR HERSHEY, PA
LOCATION.--Lat 40`17'54", long
76`40'05", Dauphin County, Hydrologic Unit 02050305, on left
bank, 0.4 mi downstream from Manada Creek, 0.5 mi upstream from State
Highway 39, and 1.5 mi northwest of Hershey.
DRAINAGE AREA.--483 square miles.
PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1975 to current year.
GAGE.--Water-stage recorder, crest-stage gage, and
gated concrete control. Datum of gage is 325.94 ft above National
Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. (levels by Susquehanna River Basin
Commission).
COOPERATION.--Station established and maintained by
the U.S. Geological Survey. Funding for the operation of this station
is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
and the U.S. Geological Survey.
REMARKS.--Flows are diverted by Hershey Chocolate
Company.
GAGE HEIGHTS OF IMPORTANCE.-
Supplied by USGS: Maximum recordable gage height and
data transmitter operational limit - 27.6 ft;
Supplied by NWS: Action stage-6 ft; Flood stage-7 ft,
the right, or north, bank begins to overflow; several roadways upstream
of gage are affected by high water; Moderate flood stage-10 ft, a few
homes adjacent to the creek upstream of the Rte 39 bridge flood; Major
flood stage-14 ft, numerous homes adjacent to the creek are affected by
high water.