Lake Swiftwater dam
Lake Swiftwater
Lake Swiftwater, located in Paradise Township, Pennsylvania, is a privately owned recreational lake with a history dating back to its completion in 1930. The dam, standing at a height of 31 feet and spanning 730 feet in length, creates a storage capacity of 346 acre-feet. With a normal storage level of 188 acre-feet and a surface area of 21 acres, the lake provides ample opportunities for water-based activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming.
Despite its recreational appeal, Lake Swiftwater poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulates the dam, ensuring that state permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures are in place. With a drainage area of 9.68 square miles, the dam's significance extends beyond its immediate surroundings, impacting the Swiftwater Creek and surrounding ecosystems.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the potential risks and management measures associated with Lake Swiftwater, it becomes evident that maintaining the dam's safety and functionality is crucial. With its proximity to the Philadelphia District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam's condition and hazard potential are areas of concern that require ongoing assessment and management to safeguard both the recreational value of the lake and the surrounding environment.
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 Swiftwater -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Swiftwater Creek At Swiftwater | 12 cfs | → |
| Brodhead Creek Near Analomink | 76 cfs | → |
| Pocono Creek Ab Wigwam Run Near Stroudsburg | 19 cfs | → |
| Brodhead Creek At Minisink Hills | 246 cfs | → |
| Bush Kill At Shoemakers | 123 cfs | → |
| Tunkhannock Creek Near Long Pond | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Swiftwater.
Boat launches
- Tobyhanna State Park
- Tobyhanna Lake
- Kittatinny Access Area
- Gouldsboro State Park
- Poxono Access Area In Nj
- Brady's Lake
Campgrounds
- Mount Pocono Campground
- Carpathian Village
- Streamside Camp & Conference
- Golden Slipper Camp
- Mountain Vista Campground
- Twin Pines
More reservoirs
Track Lake Swiftwater 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 Swiftwater
Where does the data for Lake Swiftwater 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 Swiftwater.