Lake Pinecrest
Lake Pinecrest is an earth dam located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Pinecrest
The primary purpose of Lake Pinecrest is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Pinecrest Sportsmen Club (private). It impounds the Pine Creek.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 1,150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 66 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 755 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/30/2020.
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 | Pine Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.18639, -76.24500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 755 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 755 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 463 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 66 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | LAKE PINECREST SPORTSMEN CLUB |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/30/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00641 |
| Federal ID | PA00641 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |