Prompton Dam
Prompton Dam is an earth dam located in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Prompton Dam
The primary purpose of Prompton 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 - Philadelphia District (federal). It impounds the Lackawaxen River near Prompton.
The dam stands 140 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 290 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 72,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 60 square miles. Completed in 1961, 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 09/20/2022.
At 140 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Wayne |
| Nearest City | Prompton |
| River/Stream | Lackawaxen River |
| Coordinates | 41.58934, -75.32758 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 140 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 72,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 72,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 290 acres |
| Drainage Area | 60 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Philadelphia District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/20/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00011 |
| Federal ID | PA00011 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |