Watres
Watres is an earth dam located in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, built in 1925. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Watres
The primary purpose of Watres is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Pa American Water Company (private). It impounds the Spring Brook.
The dam stands 135 feet tall and stretches 1,406 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 167 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,241 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1925, the structure is over a century 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/16/2020.
At 135 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Lackawanna |
| River/Stream | Spring Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.29389, -75.61833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 135 ft |
| Dam Height | 135 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,406 ft |
| Year Completed | 1925 (101 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,241 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,241 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,957 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 167 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | PA AMERICAN WATER COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/16/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00451 |
| Federal ID | PA00451 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |