Pleasure Lake Dam
Pleasure Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Sullivan County, New York, built in 1875. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Pleasure Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Pleasure Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Fallsburg Fish And Boat Club Inc (private). It impounds the Sheldrake Stream near Thompsonville.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 470 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 218 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,738 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1875, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. 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 09/17/2024.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The New York dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New York |
| County | Sullivan |
| Nearest City | Thompsonville |
| River/Stream | Sheldrake Stream |
| Coordinates | 41.68500, -74.62556 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 470 ft |
| Year Completed | 1875 (151 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,738 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,738 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,103 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 218 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,160 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | FALLSBURG FISH AND BOAT CLUB INC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/17/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00345 |
| Federal ID | NY00345 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |