Huntsville
Huntsville is a masonry dam located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, built in 1891. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Huntsville
The primary purpose of Huntsville 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 Huntsville Creek.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 243 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 390 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,910 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1891, 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 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 01/06/2021.
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 | Luzerne |
| River/Stream | Huntsville Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.30750, -75.97444 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 243 ft |
| Year Completed | 1891 (135 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,910 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,910 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,880 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 390 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | PA AMERICAN WATER COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/06/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00553 |
| Federal ID | PA00553 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |