Lake Erskine Dam dam
Lake Erskine Dam
Lake Erskine Dam, located in Ringwood Borough, New Jersey, stands as a significant earth dam completed in 1930 for the primary purpose of recreation. The dam boasts a height of 10 feet and a length of 200 feet, holding a maximum storage capacity of 1047 acre-feet. Despite its impressive size, the dam's condition assessment is marked as poor, indicating a need for maintenance and potential hazard mitigation. The dam's last inspection in April 2020 revealed its significant hazard potential, prompting a thorough examination of its structural integrity and emergency action plan readiness.
The dam's ownership lies in private hands, under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for regulatory oversight. With a drainage area of 0.8 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 126 cubic feet per second, Lake Erskine Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the Passaic County region. As a popular recreational spot, the dam's surface area of 80 acres provides a picturesque setting for visitors to enjoy various outdoor activities. However, ongoing monitoring and upkeep are essential to ensure the dam's continued safety and functionality for both recreational and water resource management purposes.
As climate change impacts continue to affect water resources and infrastructure resilience, Lake Erskine Dam serves as a focal point for environmental and climate enthusiasts interested in sustainable water management practices. The dam's poor condition assessment and significant hazard potential underscore the importance of proactive maintenance and risk mitigation strategies to safeguard the surrounding community and ecosystem. Collaboration between private owners, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders will be crucial in ensuring the long-term viability of Lake Erskine Dam as a vital water resource and recreational asset in New Jersey's landscape.
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 Lake Erskine Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ringwood Creek Near Wanaque Nj | 8 cfs | → |
| West Brook Near Wanaque Nj | 7 cfs | → |
| Wanaque R At Wanaque Nj | 14 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River Near Mahwah Nj | 73 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River At Suffern Ny | 35 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River At Ramapo Ny | 55 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Erskine Dam.
Boat launches
- Ringwood-Ramapo Trail Ringwood
- Greenwood Lake Turnpike Ringwood
- Blue Lake Road Town Of Warwick
- Lakeside Avenue Pompton Lakes
- Laurel Meadow Drive Town Of Warwick
- North Corporate Drive 2, Riverdale
Campgrounds
- Beaver Pond - Harriman State Park
- Camp Lewis
- Beaver Pond Campsite
- Rock Lodge Club
- Croton Point Park
- Blue Mountain Reservation
Fishing spots
Track Lake Erskine 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 Lake Erskine Dam
Where does the data for Lake Erskine 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 Lake Erskine Dam.