Mountain Valley Park Dam dam
Mountain Valley Park Dam
Mountain Valley Park Dam, located in Mendham Township, New Jersey, is a local government-owned structure designed for recreational purposes. Built in 1950, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 10 feet and has a length of 160 feet, providing a storage capacity of 20 acre-feet. Situated on the North Branch Raritan River, the dam serves as a vital resource for the community, offering opportunities for outdoor activities and leisure.
Managed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Mountain Valley Park Dam is a regulated and inspected structure, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations. With a significant hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment, the dam is monitored closely, with inspections conducted every two years to maintain its integrity. Despite its potential risks, the dam remains a valuable asset for the region, contributing to water management and environmental conservation efforts.
As part of Congressional District 11, New Jersey, the Mountain Valley Park Dam plays a crucial role in the local ecosystem and serves as a recreational hub for residents and visitors alike. With its scenic location and strategic importance in water resource management, the dam stands as a testament to the balance between human recreation and environmental stewardship in the face of climate challenges.
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 Mountain Valley Park Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Whippany River Near Morristown Nj | 8 cfs | → |
| North Branch Raritan River Near Far Hills Nj | 25 cfs | → |
| Sb Raritan River At Four Bridges Nj | 16 cfs | → |
| Lamington (Black) River Near Pottersville Nj | 20 cfs | → |
| Whippany River At Morristown Nj | 24 cfs | → |
| Passaic River Near Millington Nj | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mountain Valley Park Dam.
Boat launches
- Dell Avenue 9, Netcong
- Jefferson Lake Road Sussex County
- South Main Street Bound Brook
- Highlands Trail Union
- Island Avenue Little Falls
- North Corporate Drive 2, Riverdale
Track Mountain Valley Park Dam 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 Mountain Valley Park Dam
Where does the data for Mountain Valley Park Dam 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 Mountain Valley Park Dam.