Cowanesque Dam
Cowanesque Dam is a rockfill dam located in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, built in 1980. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Cowanesque Dam
The primary purpose of Cowanesque Dam 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 Usace - Baltimore District (federal). It impounds the Cowanesque River near Lawrenceville.
The dam stands 151 feet tall and stretches 3,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,050 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 84,747 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 298 square miles. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 years 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/06/2024.
At 151 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 | Tioga |
| Nearest City | Lawrenceville |
| River/Stream | Cowanesque River |
| Coordinates | 41.98717, -77.15272 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 151 ft |
| Dam Height | 151 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 84,747 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 84,747 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 29,876 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,050 acres |
| Drainage Area | 298 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 224,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Baltimore District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/06/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA01134 |
| Federal ID | PA01134 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |