Oakwood Lake dam
Oakwood Lake
Oakwood Lake is a private water resource located in Tunkhannock Township, Pennsylvania. This recreational lake, completed in 1947, boasts a dam height of 12 feet and a length of 120 feet, providing a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet. Situated on Swale Brook, Oakwood Lake covers a surface area of 20 acres and serves as a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking water-based recreational activities.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Oakwood Lake is regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its safety and compliance with state standards. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment remains satisfactory, with a recent inspection conducted in January 2021. The lake's purpose is primarily for recreation, offering visitors a serene environment to enjoy water-based activities while surrounded by the natural beauty of Wyoming County, Pennsylvania.
Enthusiasts who appreciate the intersection of water resources and climate will find Oakwood Lake to be a captivating destination worth exploring. With its historical significance dating back to the mid-20th century and its ongoing management by state regulatory agencies, this Earth-type dam presents a unique opportunity to learn about the balance between water conservation, recreational use, and environmental protection in the region. Whether you're interested in the engineering aspects of dam construction or simply looking for a scenic spot to relax by the water, Oakwood Lake offers a diverse range of experiences for visitors to enjoy while appreciating the importance of sustainable water resource management in a changing climate.
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 Oakwood Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tunkhannock Creek Near Tunkhannock | 338 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Meshoppen | 7,810 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna River At Old Forge | 400 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna R Bl Leggetts Creek At Scranton | 245 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Wilkes-Barre | 9,940 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna River At Archbald | 186 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oakwood Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Carpenter Town
- Lackawanna State Park
- Frances Slocum State Park
- Moon Lake County Park
- Modern Cabins
- Ricketts Glen State Park
More reservoirs
Track Oakwood 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 Oakwood Lake
Where does the data for Oakwood 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 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 Oakwood Lake.