Beaver Lake dam
Beaver Lake
Beaver Lake in Pennsylvania is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1919 for recreational purposes. With a height of 9 feet and a length of 179 feet, the dam holds a storage capacity of 370 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 297 acre-feet. The lake covers a surface area of 70 acres and is fed by the Beaver Run.
Despite its recreational appeal, Beaver Lake poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment, making it a critical water resource in need of attention and maintenance. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulates the dam, ensuring state inspection and enforcement to mitigate any potential risks associated with its deteriorating state. With a drainage area of 2.96 square miles, the lake serves as an important water source in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, maintaining Beaver Lake's structural integrity and emergency preparedness is crucial for the safety of nearby communities and the preservation of its recreational and ecological values. With its historical significance dating back over a century, the lake's risk management measures and hazard mitigation efforts will be essential in safeguarding this natural gem for future generations of water resource and climate enthusiasts.
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 Beaver Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muncy Creek Near Sonestown | 23 cfs | → |
| Chillisquaque Creek At Washingtonville | 16 cfs | → |
| Loyalsock Creek At Loyalsockville | 424 cfs | → |
| Fishing Creek Near Bloomsburg | 356 cfs | → |
| West Branch Susquehanna River At Allenwood | 6,980 cfs | → |
| Wb Susquehanna River At Williamsport | 5,870 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Beaver Lake.
Boat launches
- Hunters Lake
- Sones Pond
- Montour Preserve
- Ricketts Glen State Park - Visitor Center
- Ricketts Glen State Park - Trailhead Parking
- Bear Wallow Swamp
Campgrounds
- Group Tenting Area No. 2
- Group Tenting Area No. 1
- Worlds End State Park
- Group Tenting Area No. 3
- Ricketts Glen State Park
- Modern Cabins
Paddle runs
- Blackwell, Pennsylvania To Short Mountain Gap Near Torbert, Pennsylvania
- The Colton Road Bridge Near Ansonia, Pennsylvania To Blackwell, Pennsylvania
More reservoirs
Track Beaver 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 Beaver Lake
Where does the data for Beaver 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 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 Beaver Lake.