Furnace Road Dam dam
Furnace Road Dam
Located in Ringwood Borough, New Jersey, Furnace Road Dam stands as a vital water resource structure along the Wanaque River. Built in 1928, this earth-type dam serves the primary purpose of water supply, with a storage capacity of 5,677 acre-feet and a surface area spanning 2,590 acres. Measuring 20 feet in height and 730 feet in length, Furnace Road Dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and ensuring a stable water supply for the surrounding area.
Under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Furnace Road Dam is subject to state regulations, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to maintain its structural integrity and operational efficiency. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in October 2021 deemed it satisfactory, with a regular inspection frequency of every two years. With its location in a densely populated area, emergency action plans and risk management measures are essential to ensure the safety of downstream communities in the event of a potential failure.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the maintenance and monitoring of structures like Furnace Road Dam are critical in safeguarding against potential risks and ensuring sustainable water management practices. With its historical significance and functional importance, Furnace Road Dam remains a key player in water supply operations and flood control efforts in Passaic County, 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 Furnace Road Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Brook Near Wanaque Nj | 6 cfs | → |
| Wanaque R At Wanaque Nj | 12 cfs | → |
| Ringwood Creek Near Wanaque Nj | 9 cfs | → |
| Pequannock River At Riverdale Nj | 19 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River At Pompton Lakes Nj | 62 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River Near Mahwah Nj | 71 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Furnace Road Dam.
Boat launches
- Greenwood Lake Turnpike Ringwood
- Lakeside Avenue Pompton Lakes
- Ringwood-Ramapo Trail Ringwood
- North Corporate Drive 2, Riverdale
- Blue Lake Road Town Of Warwick
- Laurel Meadow Drive Town Of Warwick
Track Furnace Road 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 Furnace Road Dam
Where does the data for Furnace Road 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 High 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 Furnace Road Dam.