Kitchell Lake Dam dam
Kitchell Lake Dam
Kitchell Lake Dam in Ringwood, New Jersey, is a privately owned earth and gravity dam completed in 1952 for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 14.3 feet and with a length of 475 feet, the dam creates a reservoir with a storage capacity of 127 acre-feet, providing a surface area of 22 acres for recreational activities. The dam is located in West Milford Township and is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
The dam's significant hazard potential is closely monitored, with inspections conducted every two years to ensure its satisfactory condition. The last inspection in October 2021 affirmed its structural integrity. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, its emergency action plan was last revised in 2012, and there are no inundation maps prepared for the area. Despite these factors, Kitchell Lake Dam remains a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a picturesque setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and enjoy.
With its serene surroundings and recreational opportunities, Kitchell Lake Dam serves as a vital resource for the local community and visitors alike. As a privately owned structure, the dam plays a crucial role in providing a safe and enjoyable environment for activities such as fishing, boating, and nature appreciation. Its historical significance, coupled with its regulated status and regular inspections, underscores the importance of preserving and maintaining this essential water management asset in Passaic County, New Jersey.
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 Kitchell Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Brook Near Wanaque Nj | 7 cfs | → |
| Wanaque R At Wanaque Nj | 14 cfs | → |
| Wanaque River At Awosting Nj | 12 cfs | → |
| Pequannock R At Macopin Intake Dam Nj | 14 cfs | → |
| Ringwood Creek Near Wanaque Nj | 8 cfs | → |
| Pequannock River At Riverdale Nj | 29 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kitchell Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Greenwood Lake Turnpike Ringwood
- Lakeside Avenue Pompton Lakes
- Ringwood-Ramapo Trail Ringwood
- North Corporate Drive 2, Riverdale
- Blue Lake Road Town Of Warwick
- Laurel Meadow Drive Town Of Warwick
Track Kitchell Lake Dam 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 Kitchell Lake Dam
Where does the data for Kitchell Lake Dam 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 Kitchell Lake Dam.