Lake Parsippany Dam dam
Lake Parsippany Dam
Lake Parsippany Dam, located in Parsippany-Troy Hills, Morris County, New Jersey, was completed in 1933 and serves as a crucial recreational area with a primary purpose of providing leisure activities for the community. The earth dam stands at a height of 13 feet and spans a length of 800 feet, creating a storage capacity of 862 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Eastmans Brook and has a drainage area of 1.1 square miles, with a maximum discharge rate of 514 cubic feet per second.
Managed by a private owner, the Lake Parsippany Dam is regulated and inspected by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with state regulations. The dam's condition was last assessed in October 2021, with a satisfactory rating and a high hazard potential due to its location and storage capacity. Emergency action plans are in place, although the last revision was in 2010, indicating a need for updated preparedness measures to mitigate risks associated with the dam.
With its picturesque surroundings and recreational offerings, Lake Parsippany Dam provides a vital resource for the local community while also requiring ongoing maintenance and monitoring to safeguard against potential hazards. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate can appreciate the significance of this structure in balancing the needs of recreation with the critical role of dam safety and environmental protection 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 Lake Parsippany Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Whippany River At Morristown Nj | 22 cfs | → |
| Rockaway River Below Reservoir At Boonton Nj | 10 cfs | → |
| Rockaway River Above Reservoir At Boonton Nj | 472 cfs | → |
| Whippany River Near Pine Brook Nj | 32 cfs | → |
| Whippany River Near Morristown Nj | 7 cfs | → |
| Passaic River At Pine Brook Nj | 123 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Parsippany Dam.
Boat launches
- Island Avenue Little Falls
- North Corporate Drive 2, Riverdale
- Lakeside Avenue Pompton Lakes
- Dell Avenue 9, Netcong
- Jefferson Lake Road Sussex County
- Veterans Court Passaic
Track Lake Parsippany 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 Lake Parsippany Dam
Where does the data for Lake Parsippany 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 Lake Parsippany Dam.