Green Valley Farms dam
Green Valley Farms
Green Valley Farms is a private recreational dam located in Chester, Pennsylvania, specifically in New Garden Township along Trout Run. Built in 1963, this earth dam stands at 23 feet high and stretches 680 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet. With a surface area of 7 acres and a drainage area of 0.2 square miles, Green Valley Farms offers a serene environment for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy various outdoor activities.
Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Green Valley Farms is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state to ensure its safety and compliance with environmental standards. The dam's hazard potential is considered significant, with a fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in October 2017. Despite the potential risks, the dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures remain undisclosed, leaving room for further evaluation and improvement.
For those interested in exploring the intersection of water resource management and recreational infrastructure, Green Valley Farms presents a unique case study in dam safety and environmental stewardship. With its idyllic location, historical significance, and ongoing regulatory oversight, this dam serves as a valuable asset for both local communities and environmental enthusiasts seeking to understand the complexities of managing water resources in a changing climate.
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 Green Valley Farms -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Branch White Clay Creek At Avondale | 8 cfs | → |
| Red Clay Creek Near Kennett Square | 15 cfs | → |
| White Clay Creek Near Strickersville | 47 cfs | → |
| East Branch Big Elk Creek At Forestville | 6 cfs | → |
| Red Clay Creek At Wooddale | 35 cfs | → |
| Broad Run At Northbrook | 25 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Green Valley Farms.
Boat launches
- Churchmans Road New Castle County
- I 95;Us 202 Wilmington
- Chambers Lake
- Delaware Memorial Bridge Pennsville Township
- Spruce Grove Road Lancaster County
- West Side-Lyndell
Campgrounds
- Harmony Hill Wilderness Area Campsite
- Lums Pond Youth Camping
- Camp Horseshoe
- Camp Shadowbrook
- Camp Rodney
- Sandy Hill Camp
Fishing spots
Track Green Valley Farms 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 Green Valley Farms
Where does the data for Green Valley Farms 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 Green Valley Farms.