No 5 dam
No 5
No 5 is a historic earth dam located in Scranton City, Pennsylvania, along the Stafford Meadow Brook. Completed in 1888, this dam serves the primary purpose of grade stabilization and stands at a height of 35 feet with a length of 248 feet. It has a storage capacity of 206 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 98 acre-feet and a surface area of 10 acres.
Despite its age, No 5 is still regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The dam is classified as having a high hazard potential and a poor condition assessment, highlighting the need for regular maintenance and potential risk management measures. With its historical significance and crucial role in water resource management, No 5 serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring aging infrastructure to prevent potential hazards and ensure the safety of surrounding communities.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the unique challenges and opportunities presented by No 5, as it embodies the intersection of historical preservation, environmental protection, and infrastructure management. As efforts continue to assess and address the dam's condition and potential risks, it also serves as a testament to the ongoing importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climates and increasing demands on our natural resources. No 5 stands as a tangible reminder of the complex interplay between human activities and the environment, underscoring the need for proactive measures to safeguard our water resources for future generations.
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 No 5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lackawanna River At Old Forge | 400 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna R Bl Leggetts Creek At Scranton | 245 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna River At Archbald | 186 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Wilkes-Barre | 9,940 cfs | → |
| Lehigh River At Stoddartsville | 168 cfs | → |
| Tunkhannock Creek Near Tunkhannock | 338 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near No 5.
Boat launches
- Apple Tree Road
- Fords Lake
- Carverston Road-Francis Slocum State Park
- Nesbit Park
- Lake Winola
- Gouldsboro State Park
Campgrounds
- Frances Slocum State Park
- Carpenter Town
- Lackawanna State Park
- Tobyhanna State Park
- Ledgedale Rec Area
- Ironwood Point Rec Area - Ppl
More reservoirs
Track No 5 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 No 5
Where does the data for No 5 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 No 5.