Lake Cushetunk Dam dam
Lake Cushetunk Dam
Lake Cushetunk Dam, located in Readington Township, New Jersey, is a significant earth dam completed in 1928 for recreational purposes. The dam spans 594 feet in length, with a height of 20 feet and a storage capacity of 365 acre-feet. The dam regulates the South Branch Rockaway Creek, providing a surface area of 30 acres for outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, and picnicking.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Lake Cushetunk Dam has a fair condition assessment and a significant hazard potential. The dam underwent its last inspection in September 2021, with an inspection frequency of every two years. Although no emergency action plan (EAP) has been prepared, the dam meets state permitting and inspection requirements to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
With its picturesque location and recreational offerings, Lake Cushetunk Dam serves as a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. As the dam continues to be monitored and maintained, visitors can enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area while appreciating the important role the dam plays in water management and conservation efforts.
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 Cushetunk Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sb Rockaway Creek At Whitehouse Station Nj | 73 cfs | → |
| South Branch Raritan River At Stanton Nj | 65 cfs | → |
| North Branch Raritan River Near Raritan Nj | 157 cfs | → |
| South Branch Raritan River Near High Bridge Nj | 34 cfs | → |
| Spruce Run At Clinton Nj | 16 cfs | → |
| Lamington (Black) River Near Pottersville Nj | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Cushetunk Dam.
Boat launches
- Highlands Trail Union
- South Main Street Bound Brook
- Kingwood In Nj
- Upper Black Eddy
- Dell Avenue 9, Netcong
- Lambertville In Nj
Track Lake Cushetunk 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 Cushetunk Dam
Where does the data for Lake Cushetunk 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 Cushetunk Dam.