Hanks Pond Dam dam
Hanks Pond Dam
Hanks Pond Dam, located in West Milford, New Jersey, is a local government-owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1900, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 14 feet and spans 203 feet in length. It impounds Mossmans Brook, creating a surface area of 78 acres and a drainage area of 0.75 square miles. With a storage capacity of 1,106 acre-feet, the dam is a significant feature in the area.
The dam is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and undergoes regular inspections, with the last assessment in April 2021 rating its condition as fair. Classified as having a significant hazard potential, Hanks Pond Dam has an inspection frequency of 2 years to ensure its safety and integrity. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide recreational opportunities for the community and serves as a vital water resource in the region.
Overall, Hanks Pond Dam is a historic structure that contributes to the local landscape and provides essential services for water management and recreation. Its presence on Mossmans Brook adds to the environmental diversity of the area while also highlighting the importance of proper maintenance and regulation to ensure the safety of surrounding communities. As a key feature in West Milford, this dam stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience in 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 Hanks Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pequannock R At Macopin Intake Dam Nj | 6 cfs | → |
| West Brook Near Wanaque Nj | 6 cfs | → |
| Wanaque River At Awosting Nj | 7 cfs | → |
| Wanaque R At Wanaque Nj | 13 cfs | → |
| Pequannock River At Riverdale Nj | 12 cfs | → |
| Ringwood Creek Near Wanaque Nj | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hanks Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Greenwood Lake Turnpike Ringwood
- North Corporate Drive 2, Riverdale
- Lakeside Avenue Pompton Lakes
- Blue Lake Road Town Of Warwick
- Ringwood-Ramapo Trail Ringwood
- Laurel Meadow Drive Town Of Warwick
Track Hanks Pond 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 Hanks Pond Dam
Where does the data for Hanks Pond 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 Hanks Pond Dam.