Cooks Pond Dam dam
Cooks Pond Dam
Cooks Pond Dam, located in Boonton, New Jersey, serves as a vital recreational resource in the area. Built in 1945, this earth dam stands at a height of 8 feet and spans a length of 440 feet. The dam offers a maximum storage capacity of 77 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 59 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 18 acres within its drainage area of 0.14 square miles.
Despite its importance for recreation, Cooks Pond Dam has been flagged with a significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment as of the last inspection in March 2019. This indicates a pressing need for maintenance and potential improvements to ensure the dam's structural integrity and safety. With the Rockaway River-TR flowing nearby, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating potential flood risks in the region.
As a focal point for water resource management and climate resilience efforts, Cooks Pond Dam falls under state jurisdiction and regulation by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). Its location in Morris County, New Jersey, adds to its significance within Congressional District 11, represented by Mikie Sherrill. As enthusiasts of water resources and climate change, it is essential to monitor the condition and maintenance of dams like Cooks Pond to uphold their functionality and safeguard surrounding communities and ecosystems.
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 Cooks Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rockaway River Above Reservoir At Boonton Nj | 472 cfs | → |
| Rockaway River Below Reservoir At Boonton Nj | 10 cfs | → |
| Green Pond Brook At Picatinny Arsenal Nj | 2 cfs | → |
| Green Pd Bk Bl Picatinny Lk At Picatinny Ars Nj | 1 cfs | → |
| Whippany River At Morristown Nj | 24 cfs | → |
| Whippany River Near Morristown Nj | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cooks Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- North Corporate Drive 2, Riverdale
- Lakeside Avenue Pompton Lakes
- Island Avenue Little Falls
- Dell Avenue 9, Netcong
- Jefferson Lake Road Sussex County
- Greenwood Lake Turnpike Ringwood
Track Cooks 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 Cooks Pond Dam
Where does the data for Cooks 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 Cooks Pond Dam.