Fox Lake Dam dam
Fox Lake Dam
Fox Lake Dam, located in Rockaway Borough, Morris County, New Jersey, is a significant local government-owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1926, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet and spans 160 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 97 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Foxs Brook and is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), with inspections conducted regularly to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, Fox Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment. The last inspection in October 2019 revealed the need for improvements to bring the dam up to standard and reduce risks associated with potential failure. Emergency action plans are crucial for such dams, yet details on the EAP status and risk management measures for Fox Lake Dam are currently unavailable. With a maximum discharge capacity of 37 cubic feet per second and a drainage area of 1.2 square miles, the dam's impact on the surrounding environment and community underscores the importance of proactive maintenance and risk mitigation efforts.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Fox Lake Dam presents a case study in balancing recreational benefits with safety concerns and environmental impacts. With ongoing assessments and potential upgrades, this dam serves as a reminder of the critical role that infrastructure plays in water management and the need for sustainable practices to safeguard against potential hazards in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Fox Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Green Pd Bk Bl Picatinny Lk At Picatinny Ars Nj | 2 cfs | → |
| Green Pond Brook At Picatinny Arsenal Nj | 2 cfs | → |
| Rockaway River Above Reservoir At Boonton Nj | 472 cfs | → |
| Rockaway River Below Reservoir At Boonton Nj | 9 cfs | → |
| Whippany River Near Morristown Nj | 8 cfs | → |
| Whippany River At Morristown Nj | 24 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fox Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Dell Avenue 9, Netcong
- Jefferson Lake Road Sussex County
- North Corporate Drive 2, Riverdale
- Lakeside Avenue Pompton Lakes
- Island Avenue Little Falls
- Greenwood Lake Turnpike Ringwood
Track Fox 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 Fox Lake Dam
Where does the data for Fox 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 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 Fox Lake Dam.