Lower Mount Pleasant is an earth dam located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, built in 1882. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 28 ft28 ft tall and 700 ft long, taller than 62% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lower Mount Pleasant
The primary purpose of Lower Mount Pleasant 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 Hazleton City Authority (local government). It impounds the Tr Catawissa Creek.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 122 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1882, 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 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 11/06/2020.
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 | Tr Catawissa Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.91806, -76.02389 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1882 (144 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 122 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 122 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Hazleton City Authority |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/06/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00645 |
| Federal ID | PA00645 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |