Pocono Lake dam
Pocono Lake
Pocono Lake, located in Blakeslee, Pennsylvania, is a gravity dam constructed in 1957 for hydroelectric purposes. Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, this dam serves multiple functions including fish and wildlife pond creation and recreational activities. With a height of 47 feet and a length of 580 feet, Pocono Lake has a storage capacity of 5,402 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 518 acres.
The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 216 feet, and it is equipped with three slide (sluice gate) outlet gates. The dam poses a significant hazard potential and undergoes inspections every year to ensure its structural integrity. While the condition assessment is currently not available, the risk assessment for Pocono Lake is classified as moderate, highlighting the importance of ongoing risk management measures to safeguard the surrounding area from potential flooding or other hazards.
Overall, Pocono Lake serves as a vital water resource in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, providing hydroelectric power, recreational opportunities, and wildlife habitat. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find this dam's design and operation fascinating, as it plays a crucial role in managing water levels and supporting ecological diversity in the region.
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 Pocono Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tunkhannock Creek Near Long Pond | 21 cfs | → |
| Tobyhanna Creek Near Blakeslee | 133 cfs | → |
| Lehigh River At Stoddartsville | 159 cfs | → |
| Lehigh R Bl Francis E Walter Res Nr White Haven Pa | 404 cfs | → |
| Swiftwater Creek At Swiftwater | 12 cfs | → |
| Pohopoco Creek At Kresgeville | 53 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pocono Lake .
Boat launches
- Brady's Lake
- Francis E. Walter Dam Road Kidder Township
- Francis E. Walter Dam Road Luzerne County
- Gouldsboro State Park
- Tobyhanna State Park
- Tobyhanna Lake
Track Pocono Lake 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 Pocono Lake
Where does the data for Pocono Lake 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 Pocono Lake .