East Branch Lake is in the scenic upper Clarion River Valley in Elk County and is the headwaters of the East Branch of Clarion River. The lake with its clean, clear, and deep waters offers anglers the opportunity to harvest tiger muskellunge, smallmouth bass, walleye, and lake trout. In addition to being an excellent freshwater fishery, visitors can enjoy other recreational opportunities like hiking, boating, camping, and picnicking. East Branch Lake offers unlimited horsepower boating with secluded bays to anchor and enjoy the unspoiled scenery.
Authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944, East Branch Lake is one of 16 flood control projects in the Pittsburgh District. An important link in a system of flood control projects, East Branch provides flood protection for the Clarion River Valley as well as the lower Allegheny and upper Ohio Rivers. East Branch Lake has the capability to store the equivalent run-off of 21.84 inches of precipitation from its 72.4 square mile drainage area. Since its completion in 1952, East Branch Dam has prevented flood damages estimated to be more than $98 million. If all previous years’ benefits are estimated to current dollar value, then the cumulative flood risk management benefits provided by East Branch Lake is equivalent to $456 million. The dam’s capacity to reduce flood damages was dramatically demonstrated during the June 1972 floods resulting from Tropical Storm Agnes when more than $20 million in damages were prevented by East Branch alone, equivalent to $139 million in today’s dollar value. The average annual flood risk management benefits at East Branch are estimated at $6.5 million. When compared to the flood control benefits which have resulted, the construction costs of $9 million appear small. It also stores water to be released downstream during dry periods. These releases of water have the effect of improving water quality and quantity for domestic and industrial use, navigation, recreation, aesthetics, and aquatic life.
In 2008, the Pittsburgh District initiated a dam safety investigation of seepage-related concerns at East Branch. To reduce the risk to the public, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, implemented several interim risk reduction measures, including increased monitoring, 24/7 staffing, updated emergency action plans, and reduced water levels in the reservoir to relieve pressure on the dam until the seepage cutoff wall was completed. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and an open house were held at East Branch Lake on May 27, 2021, to mark the completion of the cutoff wall construction and dam repairs that began in 2014. Construction included a 24-inch continuous concrete wall for 2,200 feet up to a depth of 250 feet to reinforce the earthen dam at a cost of $132.5 million.
During the construction period, workers also modernized and improved the facilities. Visitors can now rent one of the new cabins, enjoy a new playground, stay at campsites with electric, and visit a new interpretative visitors center with a 450-gallon aquarium. Fishermen will be happy to learn that 1,000,000 walleyes were stocked at Instanter in May of 2021. The campgrounds and recreational areas at East Branch Lake reopened Memorial Day weekend in 2021. Cabin rentals, RV, and tent site reservations can be made at Recreation.gov.
