Roscoe Burgess dam
Roscoe Burgess
Roscoe Burgess is a privately owned dam located in Elkland Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania. Built in 1951, this earth dam stands at a height of 17 feet and has a length of 264 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 105 acre-feet. The dam is primarily used for recreational purposes and is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Situated on Kings Creek and within the Buffalo District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Roscoe Burgess poses a significant hazard potential and is subject to regular inspections, with the last one conducted in October 2017. While the condition of the dam is currently listed as "Not Rated," it meets state regulatory standards for permitting, inspection, and enforcement. Despite its age, the dam remains operational and continues to provide valuable recreational opportunities for the surrounding community.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Roscoe Burgess can appreciate the historical significance and structural characteristics of this dam, which plays a vital role in managing water resources in the region. As a privately owned facility, it serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams for both safety and recreational purposes. With its unique design and location on Kings Creek, Roscoe Burgess offers a glimpse into the intersection of human development and environmental stewardship in Pennsylvania's water infrastructure.
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 Roscoe Burgess -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Towanda Creek Near Franklindale | 67 cfs | → |
| Towanda Creek Near Monroeton | 107 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek At West Burlington | 56 cfs | → |
| Muncy Creek Near Sonestown | 23 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Towanda | 6,390 cfs | → |
| Nb Sugar Creek Trib Near Columbia Cross Roads | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Roscoe Burgess.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Sunfish Pond County Park
- Group Tenting Area No. 3
- Group Tenting Area No. 1
- Group Tenting Area No. 2
- Worlds End State Park
- Larnard Hornbrook 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 Roscoe Burgess 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 Roscoe Burgess
Where does the data for Roscoe Burgess 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 Roscoe Burgess.