Oradell Reservoir Dam dam
Oradell Reservoir Dam
Oradell Reservoir Dam, located in New Milford, New Jersey, was completed in 1922 and stands at a height of 25 feet. The primary purpose of this earth dam is water supply, with a storage capacity of 10,740 acre-feet. The reservoir, situated on the Hackensack River, covers a surface area of 796 acres and serves as a vital source of water for the surrounding region.
Managed by a private owner, Oradell Reservoir Dam is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety. The dam has a high hazard potential and was rated in fair condition during its last assessment in June 2021. With a drainage area of 112 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the area.
Despite its age, Oradell Reservoir Dam continues to fulfill its essential function of providing a reliable water supply to the community. As a key infrastructure in the region, its maintenance and monitoring are essential to safeguarding water resources and adapting to the challenges posed by climate change. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience will find Oradell Reservoir Dam to be a fascinating example of sustainable water management in action.
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 Oradell Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hackensack River At New Milford Nj | 12 cfs | → |
| Pascack Brook At Westwood Nj | 31 cfs | → |
| Hackensack River At Rivervale Nj | 32 cfs | → |
| Saddle River At Ridgewood Nj | 11 cfs | → |
| Hohokus Brook At Ho-Ho-Kus Nj | 20 cfs | → |
| Saddle River At Lodi Nj | 41 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oradell Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Warburton Avenue 565, Hastings-On-Hudson
- Riverside Avenue Little Ferry
- Veterans Court Passaic
- River Barge Park
- Secaucus Greenway Secaucus
- Island Avenue Little Falls
Campgrounds
- Croton Point Park
- Beaver Pond - Harriman State Park
- Beaver Pond Campsite
- Blue Mountain Reservation
- Camp Lewis
- Fort Wadsworth - Gateway National Rec Area
Fishing spots
Track Oradell 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 Oradell Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Oradell 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 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 Oradell Reservoir Dam.