Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake is a gravity dam located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, built in 1888. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Crystal Lake
The primary purpose of Crystal Lake 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 Wapwallopen Creek.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 1,695 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 494 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,337 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1888, 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 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 08/19/2020.
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 | Luzerne |
| River/Stream | Wapwallopen Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.16917, -75.84500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,695 ft |
| Year Completed | 1888 (138 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,337 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,337 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,442 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 494 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | PA AMERICAN WATER COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/19/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00562 |
| Federal ID | PA00562 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |