National Dam Inspection Program. Gorson Dam (NDI ID Number PA-01084, DER ID Number 52-61, Delaware River Basin, Mill Creek, Pike County, Pennsylvania. Phase I Inspection Report,

Based on the criteria established for these studies, Gorson Dam is judged to be unsafe, nonemergency, because the spillway capacity is seriously inadequate. The recommended Spillway Design Flood (SDF) for the size and hazard classification of the dam varies between 1/2 of the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) and the PMF. The selected SDF is the 1/2 PMF. The existing spillway will pass only about 20 percent of the PMF before overtopping of the dam occurs. It is judged that the dam could not withstand the depth and duration of overtopping that would occur for the 1/2 PMF. If the low areas on the top of the dam were filled to the design elevation, the spillway would pass about 36 percent of the PMF without any overtopping. For either condition, the spillway capacity is rated as seriously inadequate. Failure of Gorson Dam would cause an increased hazard for loss of life downstream.