Pleasant Valley Reservoir dam
Pleasant Valley Reservoir
Pleasant Valley Reservoir, located in Windham County, Vermont, is a picturesque gravity dam that serves as a vital water supply source for the city of Brattleboro. Built in 1909, this reservoir has a storage capacity of 522 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 25 acres. The dam stands at a height of 42 feet and is primarily used for water supply purposes.
Managed by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Pleasant Valley Reservoir is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with standards. With a fair condition assessment and a high hazard potential, the reservoir is monitored closely, with the last inspection conducted in June 2017. Despite its age, the dam continues to play a crucial role in providing water to the local community.
Recognized as a significant structure in the region, Pleasant Valley Reservoir is an essential part of the water resource infrastructure in Vermont. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, reservoirs like this play a crucial role in ensuring a reliable water supply for communities. With its rich history and vital function, Pleasant Valley Reservoir stands as a testament to the importance of responsible water management in the face of environmental 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 Pleasant Valley Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ashuelot River At Hinsdale | 971 cfs | → |
| West River Below Townshend Dam Near Townshend | 46 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Colrain | 50 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River At West Swanzey | 745 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River Above The Branch | 21 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River Below Surry Mt Dam | 317 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pleasant Valley Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Spofford Lake Boat Launch
- Lake Raponda Road Wilmington
- Fairview Avenue 298, Wilmington
- Swanzey Lake Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Fort Dummer State Park
- Molly Stark State Park
- Molly Stark State Park Campsites
- Townshend State Park
- Pilgrim Pines Camping Area
- Wheelock Park Campground
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- Headwaters To Proclamation Boundary
Track Pleasant Valley Reservoir 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 Reservoir
Where does the data for Pleasant Valley Reservoir 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 Reservoir.