Lake Ondawa dam
Lake Ondawa
Lake Ondawa, located in Springfield Township, Pennsylvania, is a private water resource regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Built in 1919, this Earth dam stands at 18 feet tall and spans 50 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 215 acre-feet and a surface area of 23 acres. Its primary purpose is for recreation, offering a tranquil setting for water and climate enthusiasts to enjoy various activities.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Lake Ondawa poses a high hazard potential due to its location on TR Bentley Creek. The dam undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in December 2020. The surrounding area is at risk of inundation, prompting the need for emergency action plans to be prepared and updated. While the dam meets regulatory guidelines, continuous risk assessment and management measures are essential to ensure the safety of the community and the preservation of this vital water resource.
As a beloved recreational spot in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, Lake Ondawa serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between water management and climate resilience. With its historical significance and natural beauty, this Earth dam is a testament to the importance of sustainable practices in safeguarding our water resources for future generations.
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 Ondawa -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nb Sugar Creek Trib Near Columbia Cross Roads | 3 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek At West Burlington | 56 cfs | → |
| Chemung River At Chemung Ny | 1,650 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River Near Waverly Ny | 4,320 cfs | → |
| Towanda Creek Near Franklindale | 67 cfs | → |
| Chemung River At Elmira Ny | 1,360 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Ondawa.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Newtown Battlefield State Park
- Larnard Hornbrook County Park
- Sunfish Pond County Park
- Park Station Rec Area
- Ives Run
- Hills Creek State Park
Paddle runs
- The Colton Road Bridge Near Ansonia, Pennsylvania To Blackwell, Pennsylvania
- Blackwell, Pennsylvania To Short Mountain Gap Near Torbert, Pennsylvania
More reservoirs
Track Lake Ondawa 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 Ondawa
Where does the data for Lake Ondawa 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 Ondawa.