Highland Lake Dam dam
Highland Lake Dam
Highland Lake Dam in West Paterson, New Jersey, stands as a vital structure along Slippery Rock Brook, serving primarily for recreational purposes since its completion in 1947. This private dam, with a height of 40 feet and a storage capacity of 64 acre-feet, plays a key role in managing water resources in the region. With a hazard potential rated as high, regular inspections ensure its satisfactory condition, last assessed in November 2020.
Situated within Passaic County, the Highland Lake Dam is under the regulatory oversight of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), reflecting the state's commitment to ensuring the safety and functionality of its water infrastructure. The dam's impressive 104-foot length and capacity to discharge up to 1400 cubic feet per second underscore its importance in flood control and water management efforts. Despite its age, the dam continues to play a crucial role in protecting the surrounding Woodland Park Borough from potential inundation events.
Highland Lake Dam's location in a high-risk area necessitates robust emergency preparedness, with the dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) last revised in April 2010. As climate change impacts intensify, the need for comprehensive risk assessment and management measures for critical infrastructure like Highland Lake Dam becomes increasingly pressing. Through continued monitoring, inspection, and coordination with relevant agencies, the dam serves as a crucial component in safeguarding the local community and water resources in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Highland Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Passaic River At Little Falls Nj | 83 cfs | → |
| Saddle River At Lodi Nj | 41 cfs | → |
| Pompton River At Pompton Plains Nj | 147 cfs | → |
| Passaic River At Pine Brook Nj | 150 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River At Pompton Lakes Nj | 82 cfs | → |
| Saddle River At Ridgewood Nj | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Highland Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Island Avenue Little Falls
- Veterans Court Passaic
- North Corporate Drive 2, Riverdale
- Lakeside Avenue Pompton Lakes
- Riverside Avenue Little Ferry
- River Barge Park
Track Highland 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 Highland Lake Dam
Where does the data for Highland 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 High 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 Highland Lake Dam.