Frances Slocum dam
Frances Slocum
Frances Slocum is a state-regulated dam located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, along Abrahams Creek. Completed in 1965, this earth dam stands at a height of 51 feet and spans 935 feet in length, providing flood risk reduction and recreational opportunities for the community. With a normal storage capacity of 1550 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 5340 acre-feet, Frances Slocum covers a surface area of 164 acres and serves a drainage area of 6.1 square miles.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Frances Slocum is classified as a high hazard potential structure with a fair condition assessment. Despite its age, the dam undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in August 2020. As a popular recreational site in Kingston Township, the dam plays a crucial role in both water resource management and public safety within the region. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience can appreciate the significance of Frances Slocum in balancing flood protection and leisure activities for the community.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Frances Slocum represents a vital infrastructure for both flood control and recreational purposes in Luzerne County. With its strategic location along Abrahams Creek and the care provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, this earth dam continues to serve its intended functions effectively. As a cornerstone in the region's water management system, Frances Slocum showcases the importance of sustainable dam operations and maintenance in safeguarding the environment and community well-being.
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 Frances Slocum -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Susquehanna River At Wilkes-Barre | 8,970 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna River At Old Forge | 349 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna R Bl Leggetts Creek At Scranton | 223 cfs | → |
| Tunkhannock Creek Near Tunkhannock | 281 cfs | → |
| Lehigh R Bl Francis E Walter Res Nr White Haven Pa | 404 cfs | → |
| Lehigh River At Stoddartsville | 159 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Frances Slocum.
Boat launches
- Carverston Road-Francis Slocum State Park
- Apple Tree Road
- Nesbit Park
- Hanover Township Access
- Harveys Lake
- Moon Lake
Track Frances Slocum 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 Frances Slocum
Where does the data for Frances Slocum 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 Frances Slocum.