Lake Carey
Lake Carey is an earth dam located in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, built in 1876. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Carey
The primary purpose of Lake Carey is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Carey Welfare Association (private). It impounds the Billings Mill Brook.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 109 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 263 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,810 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1876, 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 01/06/2021.
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 | Wyoming |
| River/Stream | Billings Mill Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.58194, -75.91917 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 109 ft |
| Year Completed | 1876 (150 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,810 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,810 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,781 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 263 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | LAKE CAREY WELFARE ASSOCIATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/06/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PA00887 |
| Federal ID | PA00887 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |