Aylesworth Creek Lake

Historic floods in northeastern Pennsylvania, including Hurricane Diane in August 1955, when six to sixteen inches of rain fell, isolated Scranton, and more than 90 lives were lost in the region, led Congress to authorize construction of Aylesworth Creek Lake as a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project to reduce flood risk in communities such as Olyphant, Moosic, and Scranton. Unlike many dams, Aylesworth Creek Lake has no gates to adjust water flow; under normal conditions, water flows freely through a pipe in the dam, but during floods, if inflow exceeds the pipe’s capacity, pressure forces water back into the lake. In 1996, a record snow melt produced one of the highest pools ever at Aylesworth Creek Lake, and as the dam held back water and reduced flooding downstream, it demonstrated the project’s effectiveness in flood risk management. Since its completion in 1970, the dam has continued to protect lives and homes in the region and save millions of dollars in flood damage to downstream communities. The dam is 90 feet tall and 1,270 feet long.

Archbald, Pennsylvania · United States