Browns Lake dam
Browns Lake
Browns Lake in Tioga, Pennsylvania, is a privately owned Earth dam completed in 1964 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at 13 feet high and spans 840 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a capacity of 84 acre-feet. Situated in Delmar Township, the lake is part of the WTRSHD West Branch Stony Fork watershed and offers a serene setting for outdoor activities.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Browns Lake is regulated and inspected to ensure safety and compliance with state standards. With a low hazard potential and a current condition assessment of "Not Rated," the dam is regularly monitored with an inspection frequency of 5 years. Despite the lack of a formal emergency action plan, the lake remains a popular destination for recreation enthusiasts in the region, offering a tranquil escape surrounded by nature.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the peaceful charm of Browns Lake, nestled in the picturesque landscape of Tioga County. As a vital part of the local ecosystem, the lake provides opportunities for outdoor recreation while serving as a regulated water resource managed by state authorities. With its low hazard potential and historical significance dating back to the 1960s, Browns Lake invites visitors to enjoy its beauty and tranquility while contributing to the conservation efforts of Pennsylvania's waterways.
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 Browns Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Run | 1 cfs | → |
| Pine Creek At Cedar Run | 2,470 cfs | → |
| Crooked Cr Bl Catlin Hollow At Middlebury Center | 163 cfs | → |
| Blockhouse Creek Near English Center | 109 cfs | → |
| Tioga River Near Mansfield | 349 cfs | → |
| Cowanesque River At Westfield | 213 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Browns Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Leonard Harrison State Park
- Colton Point State Park
- Twin Streams Campground
- Hoffman Campground
- Hills Creek State Park
- Ives Run
Track Browns 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 Browns Lake
Where does the data for Browns 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 Browns Lake.