Kauffman Reservoir
Kauffman Reservoir is an earth dam located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, built in 1896. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Kauffman Reservoir
The primary purpose of Kauffman Reservoir 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 Schuylkill County Municipal Authority (local government). It impounds the Kauffman Run.
The dam stands 68 feet tall and stretches 573 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 19 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 413 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1896, 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 12/11/2020.
At 68 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Schuylkill |
| River/Stream | Kauffman Run |
| Coordinates | 40.76528, -76.21917 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Length | 573 ft |
| Year Completed | 1896 (130 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 413 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 413 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 319 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 19 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/11/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00691 |
| Federal ID | PA00691 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |