Upper Crest Lake Dam dam
Upper Crest Lake Dam
Upper Crest Lake Dam, located in Oak Ridge, New Jersey, along the Pequannock River-TR, is a privately-owned earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. Despite its small size, this dam is subject to state regulation by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, with required permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures in place. The dam's condition has been assessed as poor, with a significant hazard potential, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and potential risk management measures.
The dam's last inspection took place in October 2019, with a scheduled frequency of every two years. The emergency action plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in August 2015, indicating the need for updated emergency contacts and adherence to guidelines. With a low-risk assessment and no associated inundation maps or risk management measures in place, the dam poses a potential concern for the surrounding community in the event of a breach or failure. Given its location within the West Milford Township, it is crucial for stakeholders to prioritize regular assessments and maintenance to ensure the dam's safety and integrity for future recreational use.
In conclusion, Upper Crest Lake Dam serves as a vital recreational resource in Passaic County, New Jersey, drawing visitors to its scenic location along the Pequannock River-TR. However, with a poor condition assessment and significant hazard potential, the dam requires ongoing attention and potential upgrades to enhance its safety and mitigate risks. As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, it is essential for dam owners and regulators to prioritize proactive measures to ensure the long-term stability and resilience of structures like Upper Crest Lake Dam 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 Upper Crest Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pequannock R At Macopin Intake Dam Nj | 6 cfs | → |
| Green Pond Brook At Picatinny Arsenal Nj | 2 cfs | → |
| West Brook Near Wanaque Nj | 6 cfs | → |
| Green Pd Bk Bl Picatinny Lk At Picatinny Ars Nj | 1 cfs | → |
| Wanaque R At Wanaque Nj | 13 cfs | → |
| Wanaque River At Awosting Nj | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Crest Lake 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 Upper Crest 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 Upper Crest Lake Dam
Where does the data for Upper Crest 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 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 Crest Lake Dam.