Lake Florence dam
Lake Florence
Lake Florence, located in Paupack Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, is a privately owned recreational reservoir built in 1948 with a primary purpose of providing leisure activities for visitors. The dam, constructed of earth and buttress core types, stands at a height of 24 feet and spans 268 feet in length, creating a storage capacity of 70 acre-feet. With a surface area of 9 acres and a normal storage level of 57 acre-feet, the reservoir is fed by Red Shale Brook and is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Despite its fair condition assessment and significant hazard potential, Lake Florence underwent structural modifications in 2013 to ensure its continued safety and functionality. The dam is subject to regular inspections every two years, with the most recent assessment conducted in July 2020. While the reservoir does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, it meets state regulatory requirements for permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The picturesque lake serves as a popular recreational destination for locals and visitors alike, offering opportunities for fishing, boating, and relaxation in a tranquil natural setting.
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 Lake Florence -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lackawaxen River At Hawley | 397 cfs | → |
| Lackawaxen River Near Honesdale | 262 cfs | → |
| West Branch Lackawaxen River At Prompton | 74 cfs | → |
| Dyberry Creek Near Honesdale | 86 cfs | → |
| Lackawaxen River At Rowland | 549 cfs | → |
| Delaware R Above Lackawaxen R Nr Barryville Ny | 2,840 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Florence.
Boat launches
- Wallenpaupack Lake Access
- Fairview Lake
- White Deer Boat Ramp
- Main Beach And Picnic Area
- Bear Wallow Road - Observation Station
- Beechwood Area
Campgrounds
- Caffrey Rec Area - Ppl
- Wilsonville Rec Area - Ppl
- White Deer Camp
- Ironwood Point Rec Area - Ppl
- Ledgedale Rec Area
- Lake Owego Camp
More reservoirs
Track Lake Florence 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 Lake Florence
Where does the data for Lake Florence 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 Significant 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 Lake Florence.