Upper Waterloo Lake Dam dam
Upper Waterloo Lake Dam
Upper Waterloo Lake Dam in Sussex, New Jersey, is a state-regulated earth dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Situated on the Musconetcong River, this dam has a height of 8.7 feet and a length of 496 feet, providing a normal storage capacity of 68 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, with the last inspection conducted in January 2005.
Owned by the state and under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Upper Waterloo Lake Dam poses a potential risk due to its poor condition. With a drainage area of 62.4 square miles and a surface area of 36 acres, this dam plays a crucial role in recreational activities in Mount Olive Township. The dam's location and design make it a key feature in the region's water resource management and climate adaptation efforts.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and monitoring of dams like Upper Waterloo Lake Dam become increasingly important. With the potential for improved risk assessment and management measures, there is an opportunity to enhance the resilience of this dam and ensure its continued service for recreation and water management in the region.
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 Waterloo Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Musconetcong River At Outlet Of Lake Hopatcong Nj | 14 cfs | → |
| Pequest River At Huntsville Nj | 15 cfs | → |
| Sb Raritan River At Four Bridges Nj | 16 cfs | → |
| Green Pd Bk Bl Picatinny Lk At Picatinny Ars Nj | 2 cfs | → |
| Paulins Kill At Blairstown Nj | 58 cfs | → |
| Eb Paulins Kill Near Lafayette Nj | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Waterloo Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Jefferson Lake Road Sussex County
- Dell Avenue 9, Netcong
- West Shore Drive Stillwater Township
- Poxono Access Area In Nj
- Mcdade Recreational Trail Delaware
- Front Street Belvidere
Track Upper Waterloo 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 Waterloo Lake Dam
Where does the data for Upper Waterloo 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 Upper Waterloo Lake Dam.