Forest Lake dam
Forest Lake
Forest Lake, nestled in Lackawaxen Township, Pennsylvania, is a private water resource regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. This picturesque lake, with a dam completed in 1890, primarily serves as a recreational haven for enthusiasts in Pike County. The earth dam, standing at 8 feet high and stretching 325 feet in length, holds a maximum storage capacity of 992 acre-feet, providing ample space for outdoor activities such as fishing and boating.
With a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Forest Lake offers a safe and inviting environment for visitors to enjoy its 117-acre surface area and surrounding natural beauty. Regular inspections ensure the dam's integrity, with the last inspection conducted in July 2019. The lake's normal storage capacity of 829 acre-feet and drainage area of 0.5 square miles make it a valuable resource for the local community and a vital part of the region's water ecosystem. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Forest Lake presents a serene retreat that combines recreational opportunities with a commitment to environmental stewardship.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Forest Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lackawaxen River At Rowland | 1,170 cfs | → |
| Delaware R Above Lackawaxen R Nr Barryville Ny | 4,210 cfs | → |
| Lackawaxen River At Hawley | 885 cfs | → |
| Lackawaxen River Near Honesdale | 357 cfs | → |
| Shohola Creek Near Walker Lake | 99 cfs | → |
| Dyberry Creek Near Honesdale | 114 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Forest Lake.
Boat launches
- Zane Grey
- Narrowsburg
- Wallenpaupack Lake Access
- Greeley Lake
- White Deer Boat Ramp
- Shohola Boat Ramp Second Launch
Campgrounds
- Sylvania Tree Farm Camp Sites
- Sylvania Tree Farm
- Camp Chayolei
- Ascalona Campground
- Lander's Narrowsburg Campground
- Kittatinny Canoes Riverside Campground
More reservoirs
Track Forest Lake in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Forest Lake
Where does the data for Forest Lake come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Forest Lake.