Morse Lake Dam dam
Morse Lake Dam
Morse Lake Dam, located in Bloomingdale Borough, Passaic, New Jersey, is a privately-owned structure regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. With a primary purpose of recreation, this earthen dam stands at a height of 14 feet and spans 260 feet in length, impounding Irish Brook to create a surface area of 12 acres and a storage capacity of 61 acre-feet. The dam's low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment make it a vital component for water resource management in the area.
Despite its relatively modest size, Morse Lake Dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities while also serving as a vital piece of infrastructure for water storage and management in the region. The dam has undergone regular inspections, with the most recent assessment in June 2021 confirming its satisfactory condition. As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the maintenance and monitoring of structures like Morse Lake Dam become increasingly important for ensuring the safety and sustainability of water systems.
As enthusiasts of water resources and climate, it is essential to recognize the significance of Morse Lake Dam in balancing the needs of recreation, water storage, and environmental protection. With its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition, the dam serves as a model for responsible dam management and regulation. Moving forward, continued monitoring and maintenance will be key to ensuring the long-term reliability and resilience of Morse Lake Dam in the face of evolving climate 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 Morse Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pequannock River At Riverdale Nj | 29 cfs | → |
| Wanaque R At Wanaque Nj | 14 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River At Pompton Lakes Nj | 122 cfs | → |
| West Brook Near Wanaque Nj | 7 cfs | → |
| Pompton River At Pompton Plains Nj | 145 cfs | → |
| Pequannock R At Macopin Intake Dam Nj | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Morse Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeside Avenue Pompton Lakes
- North Corporate Drive 2, Riverdale
- Greenwood Lake Turnpike Ringwood
- Ringwood-Ramapo Trail Ringwood
- Island Avenue Little Falls
- Blue Lake Road Town Of Warwick
Track Morse 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 Morse Lake Dam
Where does the data for Morse 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 Low 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 Morse Lake Dam.