Toby Creek Impoundment Basin dam
Toby Creek Impoundment Basin
The Toby Creek Impoundment Basin, located in Luzerne, Pennsylvania, is a crucial local government-owned structure designed for flood risk reduction along the Toby Creek. Built in 1940, this earth dam stands at 28 feet high and spans 4,506 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 237.5 acre-feet. The dam has a spillway width of 132 feet and is classified as having a high hazard potential, although its condition is currently assessed as satisfactory.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Toby Creek Impoundment Basin plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events. With a drainage area of 32.4 square miles, this structure serves as a key component of the flood risk reduction strategy in the region. Despite its age, the dam is regularly inspected and meets necessary regulatory requirements, ensuring its continued effectiveness in safeguarding the community from water-related hazards. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Toby Creek Impoundment Basin stands as a testament to the importance of proactive infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events.
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 Toby Creek Impoundment Basin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Susquehanna River At Wilkes-Barre | 8,970 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna River At Old Forge | 349 cfs | → |
| Lehigh R Bl Francis E Walter Res Nr White Haven Pa | 404 cfs | → |
| Lehigh River At Stoddartsville | 159 cfs | → |
| Lackawanna R Bl Leggetts Creek At Scranton | 223 cfs | → |
| Wapwallopen Creek Near Wapwallopen | 52 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Toby Creek Impoundment Basin.
Boat launches
- Nesbit Park
- Hanover Township Access
- Carverston Road-Francis Slocum State Park
- Moon Lake
- Apple Tree Road
- Hunlock Township
Track Toby Creek Impoundment Basin 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 Toby Creek Impoundment Basin
Where does the data for Toby Creek Impoundment Basin 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 Toby Creek Impoundment Basin.