Compton dam
Compton
Compton is a private dam located in Covington Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. Built in 1957, this earth dam stands at 19 feet high and stretches 440 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 90 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and is used primarily for recreational purposes, with a surface area of 10 acres and a drainage area of 1 square mile.
Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, Compton has not been modified in recent years and lacks certain emergency preparedness measures such as an Emergency Action Plan. The dam is subject to regular state inspections and enforcement, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. The structure is situated on Spring Creek, part of the Baltimore District, and falls under the jurisdiction of the state regulatory agency.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Compton presents an intriguing case study in dam management and the intersection of recreational use with safety considerations. As a privately owned dam with a significant storage capacity, its role in local water management and potential risks during emergencies highlight the importance of regular inspections and emergency preparedness measures. The fair condition assessment and high hazard potential serve as a reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance and proper maintenance of critical infrastructure in the face of evolving climate conditions.
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 Compton -- 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 | → |
| Lackawanna River At Archbald | 167 cfs | → |
| Tobyhanna Creek Near Blakeslee | 133 cfs | → |
| Tunkhannock Creek Near Long Pond | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Compton.
Boat launches
- Gouldsboro State Park
- Brady's Lake
- Tobyhanna Lake
- Tobyhanna State Park
- Francis E. Walter Dam Road Kidder Township
- Francis E. Walter Dam Road Luzerne County
Campgrounds
- Tobyhanna State Park
- Ledgedale Rec Area
- Ironwood Point Rec Area - Ppl
- Mount Pocono Campground
- Wilson Campground
- Promised Land State Park
More reservoirs
Track Compton 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 Compton
Where does the data for Compton 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 Compton.