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Little Pine State Park dam near Waterville is classified by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as a high-hazard dam, meaning it could potentially endanger downstream communities with flooding should it fail -- but the state is prepared for such an circumstance.
Recently, a public notice of this was posted on Facebook, indicating the "dam is so located as to endanger populated areas downstream by its failure."
The Sun-Gazette wanted to find out more.
It is true, the dam is classified as a high-hazard dam due to the potential for loss of life and economic loss which may occur in the event of an operational or structural failure of the dam. This has nothing to do with the current condition of the dam, according to Wesley Robinson, a spokesman for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources which oversees the park. DCNR is required to remain in compliance with the state Department of Environmental Resources' (DEP) regulations in the following ways:
• The dam must be inspected annually by a Pprofessional engineer. The DEP also performs inspections.
• DCNR must have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for the dam that is acknowledged by the DEP (one of the requirements of this is to post the EAP notices - which is the photo sent by concerned party)
• DCNR also performs underwater inspections of the outlet structures at high-hazard dams.
Dam safety inspection done in Lycoming County does list it as a high hazard classification.
The notice further states "an emergency action plan has been developed for the dam and copies of the action plan were distributed" to numerous communities in Lycoming County and Union County – with each of the places that received the copies listed on the notice.
Little Pine State Park at 4205 Little Pine Creek Road.
In addition to Robinson and DEP, Little Pine Creek State Park's manager's office was reached and told about the social media post.
According to the park website, the dam at Little Pine State Park is a dual-purpose flood control and recreation structure built across Little Pine Creek.
Constructed in 1950, it impounds the creek to create Little Pine Lake, a 94-acre body of water used for fishing, boating, and general park recreation.
The dam structure acts as a sediment trap, changing parts of the upstream and downstream aquatic ecology and creating a mud-bottom basin favorable to specific fish and insect species. It features nearby walking paths like the short Little Pine Dam Trail, which offers scenic views of the water and surrounding mountain terrain. There is an area of the park where people can view eagles in their nests.
Alerts
The park through the state DCNR does its best to alert and inform visitors of any kind of safety and information alerts on the park Website.
On that site it does list danger under an area outlined. This danger listed is an alert for the beach closure.That is due to damage incurred from Tropical Storm Debby in August 2024, as well as continued sedimentation build up in the area. Thus, Little Pine State Park swimming beach has not reopened for this entire 2026 season.
Moreover, a project to complete dredging at the Little Pine Lake is currently moving forward. The future of the waterfront will be determined after the dredging project.
The site also lists attention items including those for boaters, as siltation has caused shallow water at the boat launch and other areas throughout the lake.
The park officials ask boaters to use precaution while on the water to avoid becoming beach in low areas.
The park also lists information advisories, not alerts, for such things as spotted lanternfly invasive insects, firewood quarantine, and drone restrictions.