Gardner Creek
Gardner Creek is an earth dam located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, built in 1902. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Gardner Creek
The primary purpose of Gardner Creek 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 Gardner Creek.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 640 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 345 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1902, 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 08/13/2020.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Luzerne |
| River/Stream | Gardner Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.27056, -75.76583 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 640 ft |
| Year Completed | 1902 (124 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 345 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 345 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 225 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | PA AMERICAN WATER COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/13/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00575 |
| Federal ID | PA00575 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |