Safe Harbor Dam
Safe Harbor Dam is a concrete gravity dam with an electricity plant on the lower Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. It sits in Lancaster and York counties, about 7 miles downstream of Washington Boro, near where the Conestoga River joins the Susquehanna. Construction began in 1930 and the dam started generating power in 1931. It was the northernmost and last of three Great Depression–era hydroelectric projects on the Susquehanna.
The dam creates Lake Clarke, a long, shallow lake that fills the Conejohela Valley. The lake changed wetlands and rapids into lake habitats and supports many fish and other wildlife.
Originally the plant had seven turbines, and five more were added between 1983 and 1986, bringing the total capacity to about 420 megawatts. Two of the units provide power specifically for Amtrak’s 25 Hz rail system, and a frequency converter can switch power between 25 Hz and 60 Hz to fit the needs of the grid. The remaining units generate standard 60 Hz electricity for the general grid.
Safe Harbor is owned by Brookfield Renewable Partners (ownership changes occurred in the 2010s) and is operated by Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation. The plant’s electricity is sold into the PJM Interconnection grid.
Key moments in the dam’s history include a 2001 visit by President George W. Bush to discuss national energy policy and a Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence the same year for debris removal and recycling efforts.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:41 (CET).