Francis E. Walter Dam - Saddle Dike is a rockfill dam located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 30 ft30 ft tall and 1,860 ft long, taller than 68% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic rockfill embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Francis E. Walter Dam - Saddle Dike
The primary purpose of Francis E. Walter Dam - Saddle Dike 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 - Philadelphia District (federal). It impounds the Lehigh River near White Haven.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 1,860 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 80 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 160,290 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 288 square miles. Completed in 1961, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 09/12/2022.
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 | Luzerne |
| Nearest City | White Haven |
| River/Stream | Lehigh River |
| Coordinates | 41.13010, -75.73003 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,860 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 160,290 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 160,290 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,793 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 80 acres |
| Drainage Area | 288 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Philadelphia District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 09/12/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00008 |
| Federal ID | PA00008S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |