Lake Gordon
Lake Gordon is a gravity dam located in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, built in 1913. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Gordon
The primary purpose of Lake Gordon is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Cumberland Maryland (local government). It impounds the Evitts Creek.
The dam stands 84 feet tall and stretches 435 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 141 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,290 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 52 square miles. Completed in 1913, the structure is over a century 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/28/2020.
At 84 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 | Bedford |
| River/Stream | Evitts Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.74778, -78.67639 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 84 ft |
| Dam Height | 84 ft |
| Dam Length | 435 ft |
| Year Completed | 1913 (113 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,290 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,290 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,633 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 141 acres |
| Drainage Area | 52 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF CUMBERLAND MARYLAND |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/28/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00242 |
| Federal ID | PA00242 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |