Quakake
Quakake is an earth dam located in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, built in 1897. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Quakake
The primary purpose of Quakake 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 Hazleton City Authority (local government). It impounds the Quakake Creek.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 655 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 140 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 16 square miles. Completed in 1897, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/06/2020.
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 | Quakake Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.91583, -75.85639 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 655 ft |
| Year Completed | 1897 (129 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
| Drainage Area | 16 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | HAZLETON CITY AUTHORITY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/06/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00613 |
| Federal ID | PA00613 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |