Fliers with information regarding the Still Creek Dam in Rush Township recently caught the attention of some area residents.

Still Creek is a man-made reservoir owned by Tamaqua Area Water Authority, which serves as the drinking water source for the borough of Tamaqua.

The notices, which readers recently noticed posted in local businesses, state in all-capital letters that Still Creek has been classified as a “high hazard dam” because its failure could endanger populated areas downstream.

The notices are actually a required part of the state’s annual inspection process for dams, and have nothing to do with Still Creek’s structural condition. There are actually dozens of high-hazard dams in the area.

While the language may cause concern, borough officials said the fliers are posted each year because of the dam’s “high hazard” status. They are meant to let residents know that an emergency plan is in place if they want to see it.

“I could see how someone could read that and get excited or upset, but honestly it’s not unusual, especially in this state where they have so many dams,” said Kevin Steigerwalt, Tamaqua borough manager.

The state has more than 700 dams which are considered “high hazard” based on the size of population living downstream from them. Owners of high hazard dams are required to create an Emergency Action Plan every five years.

There are 41 other high hazard dams in Schuylkill County, and another 13 in Carbon, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.

“The hazard classification is not based on the physical condition of the dam; well-maintained dams that meet all regulatory criteria can still be considered ‘high hazard,’ ” said Colleen Connolly, community relations coordinator for DEP’s Northeast Division.

The Still Creek action plan includes a map and statistics of the communities located along Still Creek and the Little Schuylkill River who could be affected in a sudden dam failure. The area which would be subject to flooding includes approximately 1,584 homes, 507 businesses, eight schools (total student population 4,050), eight day care centers and three nursing homes. The plan also outlines procedures which the dam owner must take if there is a risk of a dam breach — whether from high water, damaged facilities or other events, such as earthquakes.

If there was a significant danger of a dam failure, the plan calls for the borough to contact Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency, which in turn would contact Berks County, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and a long list of local towns, first responders and schools.

Each year, dam owners are required to conduct annual inspections and have DEP verify that the inspections are accurate.

As part of the inspection, dam owners must prove that they have posted fliers in downstream communities explaining that there is an emergency action plan in place, and where residents can find it.

The engineer who completed the inspection for the borough, Gannett Fleming, posted the notices in places such as gas stations, restaurants and fire companies. Borough officials said they posted the fliers in some new locations this year.

According to the flier, residents can look at a copy of the plan in the offices of the following municipalities located in the inundation area: Rush, Schuylkill, Walker, West Brunswick and West Penn townships and Tamaqua Borough in Schuylkill County; as well as Center, Perry, Tilden and Windsor townships and Hamburg Borough in Berks. The plan is also available at the county EMA offices in Schuylkill and Berks County, as well as fire companies in Port Clinton and New Ringgold.