Belmont Lake
Belmont Lake is an earth dam located in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, built in 1830. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Belmont Lake
The primary purpose of Belmont Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Pa Fish & Boat Commission (state). It impounds the West Branch Lackawaxen River.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 172 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,168 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1830, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/25/2020.
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 |
| River/Stream | West Branch Lackawaxen River |
| Coordinates | 41.76806, -75.44528 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1830 (196 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,168 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,168 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,035 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 172 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | PA FISH & BOAT COMMISSION |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/25/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00163 |
| Federal ID | PA00163 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |