Sones Pond dam
Sones Pond
Sones Pond, located in Forks Township, Pennsylvania, is a state-regulated recreational water resource that was completed in 1919. The dam, measuring 20 feet in height and 175 feet in length, serves the primary purpose of recreation and has a storage capacity of 218 acre-feet. The pond is situated along Coal Run and covers a surface area of 20 acres with a drainage area of 0.5 square miles.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Sones Pond has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition assessment. The last inspection took place in June 2016, with an inspection frequency of every five years. Despite its age, the dam remains structurally sound, providing a safe and enjoyable recreational space for visitors to fish, boat, and enjoy the natural beauty of Sullivan County.
With its tranquil setting and historical significance, Sones Pond offers a valuable opportunity for water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate the intersection of human engineering and natural beauty. As a well-maintained state-owned recreation area, the pond serves as a testament to the importance of responsible water management and environmental stewardship in preserving and enhancing our natural resources for future generations to enjoy.
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 Sones Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muncy Creek Near Sonestown | 28 cfs | → |
| Towanda Creek Near Franklindale | 72 cfs | → |
| Towanda Creek Near Monroeton | 123 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Towanda | 7,140 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek At West Burlington | 65 cfs | → |
| Loyalsock Creek At Loyalsockville | 487 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sones Pond.
Boat launches
- Sones Pond
- Hunters Lake
- Bear Wallow Swamp
- Ricketts Glen State Park - Visitor Center
- Ricketts Glen State Park - Trailhead Parking
- Forest Road Bradford County
Campgrounds
- Worlds End State Park
- Group Tenting Area No. 1
- Group Tenting Area No. 2
- Group Tenting Area No. 3
- Ricketts Glen State Park
- Sunfish Pond County Park
Paddle runs
- Blackwell, Pennsylvania To Short Mountain Gap Near Torbert, Pennsylvania
- The Colton Road Bridge Near Ansonia, Pennsylvania To Blackwell, Pennsylvania
More reservoirs
Track Sones Pond 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 Sones Pond
Where does the data for Sones Pond 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 Sones Pond.