Willow Brook Dam dam
Willow Brook Dam
Willow Brook Dam, also known as Orange Rockland Lakes, is a public utility dam located in Bull Mine, Orange County, New York. Completed in 1924, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and spans 550 feet in length, with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam has a storage capacity of 995 acre-feet and a surface area of 76 acres, providing a tranquil setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the surrounding natural beauty.
With a drainage area of 1.53 square miles and a maximum discharge rate of 935 cubic feet per second, Willow Brook Dam is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Despite its high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, the dam is inspected biennially to ensure public safety. Additionally, the dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled and 24 feet wide, serves as a vital feature for managing water levels during periods of high flow.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Willow Brook Dam offers a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of human infrastructure and natural landscapes. As a recreation-focused structure in a picturesque setting, the dam serves as both a practical water management tool and a beloved outdoor destination for locals and visitors alike.
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 Willow Brook Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ramapo River At Ramapo Ny | 60 cfs | → |
| Wanaque River At Awosting Nj | 10 cfs | → |
| Mahwah River Near Suffern Ny | 7 cfs | → |
| Ringwood Creek Near Wanaque Nj | 8 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River At Suffern Ny | 40 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River Near Mahwah Nj | 67 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Willow Brook Dam.
Boat launches
- Old East Main Street Town Of Wallkill
- Laurel Meadow Drive Town Of Warwick
- Blue Lake Road Town Of Warwick
- Battlefield Road Town Of Stony Point
- Bear Mountain Bridge Road Cortlandt
- Broadway Buchanan
Campgrounds
- Round Pond Military
- Beaver Pond Campsite
- Beaver Pond - Harriman State Park
- Winding Hills Park
- Camping For Hikers On Ballfield Graymoor Center
- Blue Mountain Reservation
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
Track Willow Brook 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 Willow Brook Dam
Where does the data for Willow Brook 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 Willow Brook Dam.