Lake Meade dam
Lake Meade
Lake Meade, located in Adams County, Pennsylvania, is a private water resource that serves as a popular recreational destination. The earth dam, completed in 1967, stands at 42 feet high and spans 1625 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 5330 acre-feet. With a surface area of 211 acres and a drainage area of 8.8 square miles, the lake offers ample space for outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming.
Despite its picturesque setting, Lake Meade faces challenges in terms of its infrastructure. The dam has been deemed to have a high hazard potential and poor condition, highlighting the need for maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure the safety of the surrounding community. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection oversees the regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement of the dam to address these concerns, with the last inspection taking place in March 2021.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, the management and upkeep of structures like Lake Meade become increasingly critical. With its rich history as a recreational hub and its potential for future enhancements, Lake Meade stands as a symbol of the delicate balance between human enjoyment and environmental stewardship in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Lake Meade -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Conewago Creek At East Berlin | 116 cfs | → |
| Bermudian Creek At Oxford Road Nr Heidlersburg | 6 cfs | → |
| Codorus Creek At Spring Grove | 41 cfs | → |
| Mountain Creek Near Pine Grove Furnace | 11 cfs | → |
| Codorus Creek Near York | 200 cfs | → |
| Yellow Breeches Creek Near Camp Hill | 170 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Meade.
Boat launches
- Pinchot State Park - Boat Mooring #1
- Pinchot State Park Campground
- Pinchot State Park - Boat Mooring #3
- Childrens Lake B.L.
- Laurel Lake Boat Launch
- Codorus State Park Mooring Cove
Campgrounds
- Camp Conewago - Boy Scouts Of America
- Pine Grove Furnace State Park
- Primitive Campsite #5
- Primitive Campsite #6
- Primitive Campsite #7
- Primitive Campsite #4
Fishing spots
- Melagos Fising Spot
- Little Owens Creek
- Hunting Creek Lake
- Culler Lake
- Blairs Valley Lake
- Potomac River Reservoir
More reservoirs
Track Lake Meade 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 Lake Meade
Where does the data for Lake Meade 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 High 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 Lake Meade.