Lake Paupackan dam
Lake Paupackan
Lake Paupackan, located in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, is a private reservoir used primarily for recreation. The dam that creates the lake is an earth structure with a height of 11 feet and a length of 390 feet, completed in 1914. With a normal storage capacity of 765 acre-feet and a surface area of 239 acres, the lake is situated in the Paupack Township and is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Despite its age, Lake Paupackan has undergone structural modifications in 2006 and hydraulic modifications in 2013 to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam is inspected regularly, with the last inspection conducted in June 2020, resulting in a satisfactory condition assessment. However, due to its high hazard potential, it is crucial for emergency action plans to be in place to mitigate any risks associated with the dam.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Lake Paupackan to be an intriguing example of a privately owned reservoir in Pennsylvania that serves both recreational and regulatory purposes. Its historical significance, coupled with ongoing maintenance and safety measures, make it a noteworthy site for those interested in the intersection of water management, infrastructure, and environmental protection.
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 Paupackan -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lackawaxen River At Hawley | 350 cfs | → |
| Lackawaxen River Near Honesdale | 230 cfs | → |
| West Branch Lackawaxen River At Prompton | 62 cfs | → |
| Dyberry Creek Near Honesdale | 76 cfs | → |
| Lackawaxen River At Rowland | 497 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna River At Archbald | 167 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Paupackan.
Boat launches
- Wallenpaupack Lake Access
- Fairview Lake
- White Deer Boat Ramp
- Beechwood Area
- Bear Wallow Road - Observation Station
- Main Beach And Picnic Area
Campgrounds
- Caffrey Rec Area - Ppl
- Wilsonville Rec Area - Ppl
- Ironwood Point Rec Area - Ppl
- Ledgedale Rec Area
- White Deer Camp
- Promised Land State Park
More reservoirs
Track Lake Paupackan 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 Paupackan
Where does the data for Lake Paupackan 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 Lake Paupackan.