Stillwater Dam
Stillwater Dam is a rockfill dam located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Stillwater Dam
The primary purpose of Stillwater Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Baltimore District (federal). It impounds the Lackawanna River near Forest City.
The dam stands 77 feet tall and stretches 1,700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 422 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 17,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 37 square miles. Completed in 1960, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/09/2023.
At 77 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Pennsylvania dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Susquehanna |
| Nearest City | Forest City |
| River/Stream | Lackawanna River |
| Coordinates | 41.69687, -75.48595 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 77 ft |
| Dam Height | 77 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 17,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 17,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 422 acres |
| Drainage Area | 37 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 37,780 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Baltimore District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/09/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00006 |
| Federal ID | PA00006 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |