Spring Brook Intake
Spring Brook Intake is an earth dam located in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, built in 1894. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Spring Brook Intake
The primary purpose of Spring Brook Intake 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 Pa American Water Company (private). It impounds the Spring Brook.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 330 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 238 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 42 square miles. Completed in 1894, 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 04/21/2020.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% 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 | Lackawanna |
| River/Stream | Spring Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.33056, -75.68583 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 330 ft |
| Year Completed | 1894 (132 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 238 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 238 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 78 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 42 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | PA AMERICAN WATER COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/21/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00450 |
| Federal ID | PA00450 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |