Pleasant Valley dam
Pleasant Valley
Pleasant Valley, also known as P V W Dam, is a privately owned recreational dam located in Penn Forest Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania. Constructed in 1967 along Drakes Creek, this earth dam stands at a height of 42 feet and spans a length of 608 feet. With a maximum storage capacity of 280 acre-feet and a normal storage of 215 acre-feet, Pleasant Valley covers a surface area of 19 acres and serves as a popular spot for outdoor activities in the region.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pleasant Valley Dam has a low hazard potential and is deemed to be in satisfactory condition as per the latest inspection in July 2019. The dam is regularly inspected every five years to ensure its safety and integrity. While there are no associated structures or specific emergency action plans in place, the dam continues to offer recreational opportunities to visitors while contributing to the local water resource management in the area.
Nestled within the picturesque surroundings of Carbon County, Pleasant Valley Dam not only serves as a source of leisure and enjoyment but also plays a crucial role in water resource management along Drakes Creek. With its serene location and well-maintained facilities, this earth dam stands as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of human recreation and environmental preservation in the heart of Pennsylvania's scenic landscape.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Pleasant Valley -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tobyhanna Creek Near Blakeslee | 185 cfs | → |
| Lehigh R Bl Francis E Walter Res Nr White Haven Pa | 569 cfs | → |
| Tunkhannock Creek Near Long Pond | 23 cfs | → |
| Pohopoco Cr Bl Beltzville Dam Nr Parryville | 127 cfs | → |
| Lehigh River At Stoddartsville | 199 cfs | → |
| Pohopoco Creek At Kresgeville | 66 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pleasant Valley.
Boat launches
- Pine Run
- Preachers Camp
- Francis E. Walter Dam Road Kidder Township
- Francis E. Walter Dam Road Luzerne County
- Mauch Chunk Lake Boat Launch A
- D&Amp;Amp;L Trail East Penn Township
Track Pleasant Valley in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Pleasant Valley
Where does the data for Pleasant Valley come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Pleasant Valley.