Mauch Chunk Lake (pa-462)
Mauch Chunk Lake (pa-462) is an earth dam located in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Mauch Chunk Lake (pa-462)
The primary purpose of Mauch Chunk Lake (pa-462) is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Pa Fish & Boat Commission (state). It impounds the Mauch Chunk Creek.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 1,710 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 320 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 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 11/18/2020.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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 | Carbon |
| River/Stream | Mauch Chunk Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.84417, -75.79583 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,710 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,169 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 320 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | PA FISH & BOAT COMMISSION |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/18/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00605 |
| Federal ID | PA00605 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |