Sterling Forest Lake Dam dam
Sterling Forest Lake Dam
Sterling Forest Lake Dam, also known as Blue Lake Dam or Eagle Valley Lake, is a private dam located in Eagle Valley, Orange County, New York. Completed in 1953, this concrete structure stands at a height of 30 feet and spans 320 feet in length. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a maximum storage capacity of 1380 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 1200 acre-feet.
Managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), Sterling Forest Lake Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. The dam poses a high hazard potential due to its location on TR-Ringwood Creek and has a satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2017. Despite its moderate risk level, the dam has a spillway width of 30 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 800 cfs to manage potential flood events effectively.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sterling Forest Lake Dam offers a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of human engineering and natural systems in managing water resources for recreation and water supply purposes. With its picturesque setting and strategic design, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of careful monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and sustainability of our water infrastructure in the face of changing environmental 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 Sterling Forest Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ringwood Creek Near Wanaque Nj | 8 cfs | → |
| Wanaque River At Awosting Nj | 12 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River At Ramapo Ny | 55 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River At Suffern Ny | 35 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River Near Mahwah Nj | 73 cfs | → |
| West Brook Near Wanaque Nj | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sterling Forest Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Blue Lake Road Town Of Warwick
- Ringwood-Ramapo Trail Ringwood
- Laurel Meadow Drive Town Of Warwick
- Greenwood Lake Turnpike Ringwood
- Lakeside Avenue Pompton Lakes
- North Corporate Drive 2, Riverdale
Campgrounds
- Beaver Pond - Harriman State Park
- Beaver Pond Campsite
- Rock Lodge Club
- Camp Lewis
- Croton Point Park
- Blue Mountain Reservation
Fishing spots
Track Sterling Forest 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 Sterling Forest Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sterling Forest 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 Sterling Forest Lake Dam.