Lake Carey dam
Lake Carey
Lake Carey, located in Tunkhannock Township, Pennsylvania, is a private reservoir primarily used for recreational purposes. The dam, constructed in 1876, stands at a height of 13 feet and stretches 109 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 4,810 acre-feet. Despite its historical significance, the dam's condition has been assessed as poor, indicating a high hazard potential that may require immediate attention to ensure public safety.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Lake Carey is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The reservoir is situated along Billings Mill Brook, within the Wyoming County of Pennsylvania. With a surface area of 263 acres and a drainage area of 7 square miles, Lake Carey plays a vital role in local water resource management, serving as a crucial source of water supply and recreational enjoyment for nearby communities.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Lake Carey to be a fascinating case study, with its historical significance, recreational value, and regulatory oversight. As discussions on dam safety and maintenance continue to evolve, Lake Carey serves as a reminder of the importance of proper infrastructure management to ensure the sustainability and resilience of our water resources in the face of climate change and natural hazards.
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 Carey -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tunkhannock Creek Near Tunkhannock | 338 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Meshoppen | 7,810 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna R Bl Leggetts Creek At Scranton | 245 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna River At Old Forge | 400 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna River At Archbald | 186 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Wilkes-Barre | 9,940 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Carey.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Carpenter Town
- Lackawanna State Park
- Frances Slocum State Park
- Salt Springs State Park
- Moon Lake County Park
- Modern Cabins
More reservoirs
Track Lake Carey 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 Carey
Where does the data for Lake Carey 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 Carey.