Wadham Creek
Wadham Creek is an earth dam located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Wadham Creek
The primary purpose of Wadham Creek is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by Borough Of Plymouth (local government). It impounds the Wadham Creek.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 12 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1959, 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 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 09/02/2020.
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 | Luzerne |
| River/Stream | Wadham Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.24306, -75.95472 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | BOROUGH OF PLYMOUTH |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/02/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00547 |
| Federal ID | PA00547 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |