Lake Meade
Lake Meade is an earth dam located in Adams County, Pennsylvania, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Meade
The primary purpose of Lake Meade is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Meade Poa Inc. (private). It impounds the Mud Run.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 1,625 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 211 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,330 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/16/2021.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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 | Adams |
| River/Stream | Mud Run |
| Coordinates | 39.99278, -77.04222 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,625 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,330 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,330 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,680 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 211 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | LAKE MEADE POA INC. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/16/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00331 |
| Federal ID | PA00331 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |