Sleepy Valley Dam
Sleepy Valley Dam is an earth dam located in Sussex County, New Jersey, built in 1937. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Sleepy Valley Dam
The primary purpose of Sleepy Valley Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Tall Timbers Property Owners Association (private). It impounds the Wallkill River-tr near Independence Corners.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 270 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 122 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/25/2024.
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Location
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Sussex |
| Nearest City | Independence Corners |
| River/Stream | Wallkill River-tr |
| Coordinates | 41.22052, -74.54143 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 270 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 122 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 122 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 81 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 390 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Tall Timbers Property Owners Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/25/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00763 |
| Federal ID | NJ00763 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |