Lake Latonka
Lake Latonka is an earth dam located in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Latonka
The primary purpose of Lake Latonka is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Latonka P.o.a. (private). It impounds the Cool Spring Creek.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 1,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 290 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,595 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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 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 10/06/2020.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% 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 | Mercer |
| River/Stream | Cool Spring Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.26917, -80.18500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,595 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,595 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,316 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 290 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | LAKE LATONKA P.O.A. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/06/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00736 |
| Federal ID | PA00736 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |