Lake Lackawanna Dam dam
Lake Lackawanna Dam
Lake Lackawanna Dam, located in Byram Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, is a private-owned structure primarily used for recreation purposes. The dam, completed in 1910, stands at a height of 14.6 feet and has a length of 310 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 410 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Lubbers Run, within the Philadelphia District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, and is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Despite its recreational value, Lake Lackawanna Dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential and a poor condition assessment. The last inspection in November 2020 revealed the dam's deteriorating state, prompting concerns about its structural integrity and safety. With a maximum discharge capacity of 2745 cubic feet per second, any failure or breach of the dam could pose a serious risk to downstream communities and infrastructure.
Efforts to address the dam's condition and safety measures are crucial to mitigate potential risks and ensure the protection of surrounding areas. Regular inspections and maintenance, along with emergency action plans, may be necessary to safeguard the dam and its associated structures. Climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates will need to monitor the situation closely to support the preservation and proper management of Lake Lackawanna Dam for future generations.
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 Lackawanna 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 | → |
| Green Pd Bk Bl Picatinny Lk At Picatinny Ars Nj | 2 cfs | → |
| Green Pond Brook At Picatinny Arsenal Nj | 2 cfs | → |
| Eb Paulins Kill Near Lafayette Nj | 11 cfs | → |
| Sb Raritan River At Four Bridges Nj | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Lackawanna Dam.
Boat launches
- Jefferson Lake Road Sussex County
- Dell Avenue 9, Netcong
- West Shore Drive Stillwater Township
- Mcdade Recreational Trail Delaware
- Poxono Access Area In Nj
- North Corporate Drive 2, Riverdale
Track Lake Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna Dam
Where does the data for Lake Lackawanna 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 Significant 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 Lackawanna Dam.