Watchung Lake Dam dam
Watchung Lake Dam
Watchung Lake Dam, located in Watchung Borough, New Jersey, is a local government-owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. This Earth-type dam spans 420 feet in length and stands at a height of 19.2 feet, impounding the waters of the Stony Brook West Branch. With a normal storage capacity of 93 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 3133 cubic feet per second, the dam presents a high hazard potential but was assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of May 2021.
Managed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Watchung Lake Dam undergoes regular inspections every two years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) was last revised in August 2021, emphasizing preparedness and risk management measures in case of a potential breach or flooding event. The dam's location within Somerset County further highlights its significance in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region, under the regulatory oversight of NJDEP.
As a crucial infrastructure asset in the area, Watchung Lake Dam not only provides recreational opportunities but also contributes to water storage and flood control measures. With its strategic placement and high hazard potential, ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts are essential to safeguard surrounding communities and the environment from potential risks associated with dam failure. Climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates can closely follow the dam's condition assessments and emergency preparedness updates to support sustainable water management practices and resilience planning in the face of changing climate dynamics.
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 Watchung Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Stony Brook At Watchung Nj | 2 cfs | → |
| Green Brook At Seeley Mills Nj | 1 cfs | → |
| Bound Bk At Middlesex Nj | 18 cfs | → |
| Passaic River Near Millington Nj | 14 cfs | → |
| Passaic River Near Chatham Nj | 34 cfs | → |
| West Branch Middle Brook Near Martinsville Nj | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Watchung Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- South Main Street Bound Brook
- South 3rd Avenue Highland Park
- Woodbridge
- River Road Sayreville
- Middlesex County
- Second Street Perth Amboy
Track Watchung 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 Watchung Lake Dam
Where does the data for Watchung 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 Watchung Lake Dam.