Watres dam
Watres
Watres, a private water supply dam located in Lackawanna, Pennsylvania, was completed in 1925 and stands at a height of 135 feet with a length of 1406 feet. The dam's primary purpose is water supply, with a storage capacity of 8241 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 5957 acre-feet. Situated on Spring Brook, the dam is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with state regulations.
Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, Watres has been assessed as being in satisfactory condition. The dam has undergone modifications in 2008 to its foundation and hydraulic components. In the event of an emergency, the dam has an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, although details regarding its preparation and review dates are not specified. With its location in Spring Brook Township and under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania state regulatory agency, Watres serves as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area.
Overall, Watres provides a vital water supply function and plays a significant role in managing the water resources of Lackawanna, Pennsylvania. With its historical significance dating back to 1925, the dam continues to be a key infrastructure for the region. Its compliance with state regulations and regular inspections demonstrate a commitment to ensuring its safety and reliability for the community it serves. As a private dam with a substantial storage capacity, Watres stands as a testament to the importance of proper water resource management in the face of climate change and increasing demands for water supply.
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 Watres -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lackawanna River At Old Forge | 349 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna R Bl Leggetts Creek At Scranton | 223 cfs | → |
| Lehigh River At Stoddartsville | 159 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Wilkes-Barre | 8,970 cfs | → |
| Lehigh R Bl Francis E Walter Res Nr White Haven Pa | 404 cfs | → |
| Tobyhanna Creek Near Blakeslee | 133 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Watres.
Boat launches
- Gouldsboro State Park
- Brady's Lake
- Apple Tree Road
- Tobyhanna Lake
- Tobyhanna State Park
- Francis E. Walter Dam Road Luzerne County
Campgrounds
- Tobyhanna State Park
- Frances Slocum State Park
- Ledgedale Rec Area
- Lehigh Gorge Campground
- Mount Pocono Campground
- Camp Shehaqua
More reservoirs
Track Watres 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 Watres
Where does the data for Watres 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 Watres.