Wild Creek
Wild Creek is an earth dam located in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, built in 1941. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Wild Creek
The primary purpose of Wild Creek 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 Bethlehem Authority (local government). It impounds the Wild Creek.
The dam stands 135 feet tall and stretches 1,076 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 304 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 17,143 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 22 square miles. Completed in 1941, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 11/05/2020.
At 135 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Wild Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.89583, -75.56278 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 135 ft |
| Dam Height | 135 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,076 ft |
| Year Completed | 1941 (85 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 17,143 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 17,143 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12,583 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 304 acres |
| Drainage Area | 22 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | BETHLEHEM AUTHORITY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/05/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00609 |
| Federal ID | PA00609 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |