Lake Somerset is an earth dam located in Chester County, Pennsylvania, built in 1969. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 800 ft long, taller than 74% 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 embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lake Somerset
The primary purpose of Lake Somerset is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Somerset Lake Service Corporation (private). It impounds the Broad Run.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 248 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1969, 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. 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 10/21/2021.
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 | Chester |
| River/Stream | Broad Run |
| Coordinates | 39.78389, -75.74111 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 248 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 248 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 208 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Somerset Lake Service Corporation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/21/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00248 |
| Federal ID | PA00248 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |