Lake Altoona
Lake Altoona is an earth dam located in Blair County, Pennsylvania, built in 1913. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Altoona
The primary purpose of Lake Altoona 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 Altoona Water Authority (local government). It impounds the Burgoon Run.
The dam stands 65 feet tall and stretches 1,934 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 82 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,729 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1913, 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 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 05/05/2020.
At 65 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Blair |
| River/Stream | Burgoon Run |
| Coordinates | 40.49083, -78.45639 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,934 ft |
| Year Completed | 1913 (113 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,729 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,729 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,566 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 82 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | ALTOONA WATER AUTHORITY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/05/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00532 |
| Federal ID | PA00532 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |