Upper Garden Reservoir Dam dam
Upper Garden Reservoir Dam
The Upper Garden Reservoir Dam in Denville, New Jersey, is a state-regulated earth dam primarily designed for recreational purposes. Located on the Whippany River-TR, this dam stands at a height of 6 feet and spans a length of 550 feet, with a surface area of 3 acres and a drainage area of 0.19 square miles. Despite its modest size, the dam has a significant hazard potential and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
Owned by the state of New Jersey and under the jurisdiction of the NJDEP, the Upper Garden Reservoir Dam is in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in October 2020. With a dam height matching its NID height of 6 feet, this structure serves as a key component for water resource management and recreational activities in Morris County. While there are no associated structures or federal agency involvements, the dam remains an essential feature in the local landscape, providing both safety and leisure opportunities for residents and visitors alike.
The dam's location in Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, along with its proximity to the Whippany River-TR, offers a picturesque setting for outdoor enthusiasts and climate advocates to appreciate the intersection of water resource management and recreational infrastructure. As a state-regulated entity with a focus on recreation, the Upper Garden Reservoir Dam symbolizes the importance of balancing environmental stewardship with public enjoyment, highlighting the interconnectedness of water resources and climate considerations in a dynamic 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 Upper Garden Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Whippany River Near Morristown Nj | 7 cfs | → |
| Whippany River At Morristown Nj | 22 cfs | → |
| Rockaway River Above Reservoir At Boonton Nj | 472 cfs | → |
| Rockaway River Below Reservoir At Boonton Nj | 10 cfs | → |
| Green Pd Bk Bl Picatinny Lk At Picatinny Ars Nj | 3 cfs | → |
| Green Pond Brook At Picatinny Arsenal Nj | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Garden Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Dell Avenue 9, Netcong
- Jefferson Lake Road Sussex County
- Island Avenue Little Falls
- North Corporate Drive 2, Riverdale
- Lakeside Avenue Pompton Lakes
- South Main Street Bound Brook
Track Upper Garden Reservoir 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 Upper Garden Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Upper Garden Reservoir 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 Upper Garden Reservoir Dam.