Lower Lake dam
Lower Lake
Lower Lake, located in Barrett Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, is a privately owned recreational water resource regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The dam, constructed in 1923, stands at a height of 30 feet and spans 320 feet, creating a storage capacity of 55 acre-feet. The primary purpose of Lower Lake is for recreation, offering a surface area of 15 acres within a drainage area of 5 square miles.
Despite its age, Lower Lake maintains a hazard potential classified as low and a fair condition assessment. The dam's last inspection in July 2018 revealed a need for inspection every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and risk management measures are currently unspecified, indicating an area for potential improvement in the future to enhance the safety and resilience of this resource for water and climate enthusiasts in the region.
With its picturesque setting and historical significance, Lower Lake serves as a valuable recreational asset within the community, offering opportunities for fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and monitoring of facilities like Lower Lake are essential to ensure continued enjoyment and safety for all who visit this tranquil oasis in the heart of Pennsylvania.
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 Lower Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brodhead Creek Near Analomink | 76 cfs | → |
| Swiftwater Creek At Swiftwater | 12 cfs | → |
| Little Bush Kill At Edgemere | 10 cfs | → |
| Bush Kill At Shoemakers | 123 cfs | → |
| Pocono Creek Ab Wigwam Run Near Stroudsburg | 19 cfs | → |
| Brodhead Creek At Minisink Hills | 246 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Lake.
Boat launches
- North Shore Road Greene Township
- Snow Shanty Boat Mooring
- Greene Township
- Beechwood Area
- Bear Wallow Road - Observation Station
- Main Beach And Picnic Area
Track Lower 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 Lower Lake
Where does the data for Lower 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 Lower Lake.