Orson Pond

About Orson Pond

The primary purpose of Orson Pond is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Terrence And Dorothy Ryan (private). It impounds the Tr East Br Lackawanna River.

The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 116 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1849, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 08/13/2020.

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