Big Bass Lake
Big Bass Lake is an earth dam located in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, built in 1957. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Big Bass Lake
The primary purpose of Big Bass Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Big Bass Lake Community Association (private). It impounds the Tamarack Creek.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 84 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 455 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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. 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 10/15/2020.
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 | Lackawanna |
| River/Stream | Tamarack Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.25194, -75.49528 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 455 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 455 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 277 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 84 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | BIG BASS LAKE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/15/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00368 |
| Federal ID | PA00368 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |