Carbondale No 4 dam
Carbondale No 4
Carbondale No 4, a privately owned dam located in Lackawanna, Pennsylvania, stands as a historic structure completed in 1892 for the primary purpose of water supply. Nestled along Racket Brook in Carbondale City, this Earth-type dam boasts a height of 28 feet and a length of 480 feet, with a storage capacity of 1071 acre-feet. Despite its age, Carbondale No 4 remains a crucial asset for the region, holding a normal storage volume of 752 acre-feet across its 62-acre surface area.
Although Carbondale No 4 has undergone modifications in 2007 to enhance its hydraulic capabilities, recent assessments have revealed a high hazard potential and poor condition. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulates this dam, ensuring its compliance with state standards for inspection, maintenance, and enforcement. With a designated inspection frequency and a last assessment conducted in June 2020, Carbondale No 4 continues to play a vital role in water resource management within the area.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and upkeep of structures like Carbondale No 4 become increasingly critical. With its historical significance and essential role in providing water supply, efforts to improve its condition and mitigate potential risks are essential for safeguarding the surrounding community and ensuring the resilience of this vital infrastructure in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Carbondale No 4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lackawanna River At Archbald | 167 cfs | → |
| West Branch Lackawaxen River At Prompton | 62 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna River Near Forest City | 45 cfs | → |
| West Branch Lackawaxen River Near Aldenville | 35 cfs | → |
| Dyberry Creek Near Honesdale | 76 cfs | → |
| Lackawaxen River Near Honesdale | 230 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carbondale No 4.
Track Carbondale No 4 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 Carbondale No 4
Where does the data for Carbondale No 4 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 Carbondale No 4.