Shawnee Lake
Shawnee Lake is an earth dam located in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, built in 1950. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Shawnee Lake
The primary purpose of Shawnee Lake 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 Dcnr (state). It impounds the Tr Raystown Br Juniata River.
The dam stands 56 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 450 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 25,250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 37 square miles. Completed in 1950, 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 05/07/2020.
At 56 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 | Bedford |
| River/Stream | Tr Raystown Br Juniata River |
| Coordinates | 40.03139, -78.61889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 25,250 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 25,250 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,750 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 450 acres |
| Drainage Area | 37 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | DCNR |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/07/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00832 |
| Federal ID | PA00832 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |