Big Boulder Lake A
Big Boulder Lake A is an earth dam located in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, built in 1957. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Big Boulder Lake A
The primary purpose of Big Boulder Lake A is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Big Boulder Corporation (private). It impounds the Tr Tunkhannock Creek.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 759 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 170 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,971 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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 01/21/2021.
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 | Carbon |
| River/Stream | Tr Tunkhannock Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.04500, -75.58306 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 759 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,971 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,971 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 920 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 170 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | BIG BOULDER CORPORATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/21/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00615 |
| Federal ID | PA00615 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |