Washington Forge Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Morris County, New Jersey, built in 1890. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 10 ft10 ft tall and 710 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Washington Forge Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Washington Forge Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Wharton Borough (local government). It impounds the Rockaway River near Borough of Wharton.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 710 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 96 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 29 square miles. Completed in 1890, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/08/2022.
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Location
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Morris |
| Nearest City | Borough of Wharton |
| River/Stream | Rockaway River |
| Coordinates | 40.90378, -74.57848 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 710 ft |
| Year Completed | 1890 (136 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 96 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 96 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 63 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 29 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,207 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Wharton Borough |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/08/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00341 |
| Federal ID | NJ00341 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |