Pleasant Valley No. 12 dam
Pleasant Valley No. 12
Pleasant Valley No. 12, also known as Lucas Detention, is a private earth dam located in Winona, Minnesota. Constructed in 1968 by the USDA NRCS, this dam serves as a crucial flood risk reduction structure along the Pleasant Valley CR-TR. With a height of 30 feet and a length of 440 feet, Pleasant Valley No. 12 has a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.41 square miles.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, this dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. The dam's hazard potential is considered significant, with a fair condition assessment as of April 2015. The last inspection date was in May 2019, with inspections conducted every four years to monitor its performance and safety. Despite its moderate risk level, Pleasant Valley No. 12 continues to play a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the strategic location and design of Pleasant Valley No. 12, which showcases effective flood risk reduction measures in a high-risk area. With its uncontrolled spillway and buttress core type, this dam exemplifies efficient engineering practices to manage water flow and prevent potential disasters. As a significant structure in the St. Paul District, Pleasant Valley No. 12 stands as a testament to the collaboration between private owners, state agencies, and federal designers in safeguarding communities and ecosystems against the impacts of extreme weather events.
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 No. 12 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Winona | 32,600 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 608 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,190 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Houston | 840 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Arcadia | 541 cfs | → |
| South Fork Root River Near Houston | 179 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pleasant Valley No. 12.
Boat launches
- Winona
- Lake Winona Bike Path Winona
- Great River Road Town Of Trempealeau
- Trempealeau River -- Perrot State Park
Campgrounds
- Pla-Mor Campground
- Prairie Island City Campground
- Prairie Island Campground
- Group Tent Campsite
- Perrot State Park Campground
- Perrot State Park
Fishing spots
- Franklin St. Fishing Pier
- Huff Street Fishing Pier
- Dacota Street Fishing Pier
- New Albin Big Lake
- Pine Creek
- Coldwater Creek
Track Pleasant Valley No. 12 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 No. 12
Where does the data for Pleasant Valley No. 12 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 Significant 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 No. 12.