Cowans Gap
Cowans Gap is an earth dam located in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Cowans Gap
The primary purpose of Cowans Gap is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Dcnr (state). It impounds the Little Aughwick Creek.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 54 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,030 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1936, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/24/2020.
At 32 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
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 | Fulton |
| River/Stream | Little Aughwick Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.00167, -77.92389 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,030 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,030 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 54 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | DCNR |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/24/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00187 |
| Federal ID | PA00187 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |