Lower Owl Creek
Lower Owl Creek is an earth dam located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, built in 1883. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lower Owl Creek
The primary purpose of Lower Owl 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 Borough Of Tamaqua (local government). It impounds the Owl Creek.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 620 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 29 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 280 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1883, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/16/2020.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 | Schuylkill |
| River/Stream | Owl Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.79250, -75.93417 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 620 ft |
| Year Completed | 1883 (143 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 280 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 280 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 169 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | BOROUGH OF TAMAQUA |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/16/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00674 |
| Federal ID | PA00674 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |