Pleasant Valley Lake Dam dam
Pleasant Valley Lake Dam
Pleasant Valley Lake Dam, located in Mendham Township, New Jersey, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1933, this earth dam stands at a height of 35 feet and has a length of 365 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 270 acre-feet. The dam is situated on McVickers Brook and is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, with state-permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of June 2021, Pleasant Valley Lake Dam has been assigned a high hazard potential due to its location and the potential consequences of a failure. Emergency action plans are crucial for such structures, and while the dam's EAP preparation status is not specified, regular inspections are conducted every 2 years to monitor its safety. The dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 2779 cubic feet per second and a drainage area of 3.68 square miles, serving as a vital component of the water resource infrastructure in the Morris County area.
Congressional District 11, represented by Mikie Sherrill, encompasses the area where Pleasant Valley Lake Dam is situated, highlighting the importance of this structure in the local community. With its historical significance, recreational value, and role in water management, Pleasant Valley Lake Dam stands as a key feature in the landscape of Mendham Township and continues to be a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the region.
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 Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch Raritan River Near Far Hills Nj | 9 cfs | → |
| Lamington (Black) River Near Pottersville Nj | 15 cfs | → |
| Passaic River Near Millington Nj | 12 cfs | → |
| Sb Raritan River At Four Bridges Nj | 16 cfs | → |
| Whippany River Near Morristown Nj | 7 cfs | → |
| Whippany River At Morristown Nj | 22 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pleasant Valley Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Dell Avenue 9, Netcong
- Jefferson Lake Road Sussex County
- South Main Street Bound Brook
- Highlands Trail Union
- South 3rd Avenue Highland Park
- Island Avenue Little Falls
Track Pleasant Valley Lake 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 Pleasant Valley Lake Dam
Where does the data for Pleasant Valley Lake 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 High 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 Lake Dam.