Kunkels
Kunkels is an earth dam located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, built in 1870. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Kunkels
The primary purpose of Kunkels is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Elsie Kunkel (private). It impounds the Pine Creek.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 434 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 57 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1870, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 11/19/2019.
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Location
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Schuylkill |
| River/Stream | Pine Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.67861, -76.04889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 434 ft |
| Year Completed | 1870 (156 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 57 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 57 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 44 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ELSIE KUNKEL |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/19/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00669 |
| Federal ID | PA00669 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |