Laurel Creek
Laurel Creek is a rockfill dam located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Laurel Creek
The primary purpose of Laurel 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 Lewistown Municipal Water Authority (local government). It impounds the Laurel Creek.
The dam stands 135 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 67 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,080 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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 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 12/10/2020.
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 | Mifflin |
| River/Stream | Laurel Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.73000, -77.62889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 135 ft |
| Dam Height | 135 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,080 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,080 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,050 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 67 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | LEWISTOWN MUNICIPAL WATER AUTHORITY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/10/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00578 |
| Federal ID | PA00578 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |