Wallkill Lake Dam dam
Wallkill Lake Dam
Located in Vernon Township, New Jersey, the Wallkill Lake Dam is a privately owned structure regulating the Wallkill River-TR. Built in 1930, this earth dam stands at 15 feet high and spans 490 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 215 acre-feet. The dam primarily serves recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 26 acres for visitors to enjoy various water activities. Despite being state-regulated by the NJDEP and regularly inspected, the dam is classified as having low hazard potential and is in fair condition as of the last assessment in 2018.
With a maximum discharge of 900 cubic feet per second, the Wallkill Lake Dam plays a crucial role in managing the drainage area of 0.8 square miles. The dam's primary purpose is to provide recreational opportunities for the community while ensuring the safety and integrity of the surrounding environment. Although there have been no major modifications or incidents reported at the dam, emergency preparedness measures such as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) are yet to be established, highlighting the importance of proactive risk management strategies in safeguarding this vital water resource.
As a key component of the local landscape, the Wallkill Lake Dam not only offers recreational amenities but also serves as a critical infrastructure for flood control and water resource management in Sussex County, New Jersey. With its historical significance dating back to the early 20th century, this earth dam stands as a testament to human ingenuity and engineering prowess in harnessing the power of water for the benefit of the community. As climate change continues to pose challenges to water resources, the Wallkill Lake Dam remains an essential asset in ensuring the sustainable use and conservation of this precious natural resource for future generations.
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 Wallkill Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wanaque River At Awosting Nj | 43 cfs | → |
| Delaware River At Port Jervis Ny | 5,660 cfs | → |
| Eb Paulins Kill Near Lafayette Nj | 19 cfs | → |
| Delaware River At Montague Nj | 6,490 cfs | → |
| Neversink River At Godeffroy Ny | 542 cfs | → |
| Ringwood Creek Near Wanaque Nj | 38 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wallkill Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Winding Waters Trail Town Of Warwick
- Matamoras
- Greenwood Lake Turnpike Ringwood
- Blue Lake Road Town Of Warwick
- Laurel Meadow Drive Town Of Warwick
- Old East Main Street Town Of Wallkill
Track Wallkill 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 Wallkill Lake Dam
Where does the data for Wallkill 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 Low 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 Wallkill Lake Dam.