Peace Valley (Pa-617) dam
Peace Valley (Pa-617)
Located in Bucks, Pennsylvania, the Peace Valley dam, also known as Lake Galena, stands as a vital structure managed by the local government for flood risk reduction, recreation, and water supply purposes. Built in 1973 by AandE-E.H. Bourquard Associates Inc, this earth dam spans 2446 feet with a height of 66 feet, providing a storage capacity of 17,132 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 365 acres. The dam is designed to regulate the Neshaminy Creek and ensure the safety of the surrounding area, making it a crucial asset for water resource management in the region.
Owned and regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Peace Valley dam undergoes regular inspections to ensure its satisfactory condition and high hazard potential is effectively managed. With a drainage area of 15.8 square miles, the dam plays a critical role in protecting the New Britain Township from potential flooding events. Despite lacking specific spillway information, the dam's design meets guidelines for emergency action plans and risk assessment measures, highlighting its importance in mitigating natural disasters and safeguarding the community.
Strategically situated in an environmentally significant area, the Peace Valley dam not only serves as a flood control structure but also provides opportunities for recreational activities and water supply to the region. With a strong foundation and buttress core type, this essential infrastructure stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate adaptation strategies in Pennsylvania.
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 Peace Valley (Pa-617) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nb Neshaminy Cr Bl Lake Galena Nr New Britain | 70 cfs | → |
| Nb Neshaminy Creek At Chalfont | 21 cfs | → |
| East Branch Perkiomen Creek Near Dublin | 14 cfs | → |
| L Neshaminy Cr At Valley Road Nr Neshaminy | 14 cfs | → |
| Tohickon Creek Near Pipersville | 23 cfs | → |
| Neshaminy Creek Near Rushland | 73 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Peace Valley (Pa-617).
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Track Peace Valley (Pa-617) 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 Peace Valley (Pa-617)
Where does the data for Peace Valley (Pa-617) 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 Peace Valley (Pa-617).