Spring Lake dam
Spring Lake
Spring Lake, located in Thompson Township, Pennsylvania, is a private recreational water resource regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Built in 1919, this Earth dam stands at 10 feet high and spans 125 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 87 acre-feet. Despite its small surface area of 1 acre, the dam serves a vital role in providing recreational opportunities for the local community.
However, concerns have been raised about the dam's condition, as it has been rated as having a high hazard potential and poor structural assessment. The last inspection in March 2021 highlighted the need for maintenance and potential safety improvements. With its location on the TR Starrucca Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River, ensuring the safety and integrity of Spring Lake is crucial for both water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, keeping a close eye on the maintenance and regulatory oversight of Spring Lake is imperative to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and the sustainability of this recreational water source. Addressing the dam's poor condition and high hazard potential will be essential in mitigating risks and preserving this valuable resource 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 Spring Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Branch Delaware River At Hale Eddy Ny | 601 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Windsor Ny | 1,700 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna River Near Forest City | 45 cfs | → |
| West Br Delaware River At Stilesville Ny | 452 cfs | → |
| Equinunk Creek Near Dillontown | 41 cfs | → |
| Delaware River At Lordville Ny | 1,980 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spring Lake.
Boat launches
- Oakland Access
- Great Bend
- Belmont Lake
- Balls Eddy-Temporarily Closed
- West Branch Delaware River
- Great Bend Twp/Hallstead
Campgrounds
- East Lake Campground
- Sky Lake Camp And Retreat Center
- French Woods Performing Arts Camp
- Salt Springs State Park
- Oquaga Creek State Park
- Soaring Eagle Campground
More reservoirs
Track Spring 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 Spring Lake
Where does the data for Spring 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 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 Spring Lake.