Orson Pond is an earth dam located in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, built in 1849. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 16 ft16 ft tall and 116 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
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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Location
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Wayne |
| River/Stream | Tr East Br Lackawanna River |
| Coordinates | 41.81333, -75.44667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 116 ft |
| Year Completed | 1849 (177 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 130 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Terrence and Dorothy Ryan |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/13/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00136 |
| Federal ID | PA00136 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |