During winter months, cold and ice may result in inaccurate real-time gage height and streamflow data. Adjustments or deletions of this data can only be done after detailed analysis.

 

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS
LOCATION.--Lat 40°53'05", long 74°13'34" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, Totowa Borough, Passaic County, NJ, Hydrologic Unit 02030103, on left bank 0.6 mi downstream from Beatties Dam in Little Falls, and 1.0 mi upstream from Peckman River.
DRAINAGE AREA.--762 mi².
PERIOD OF RECORD.--September 1897 to current year. Monthly discharge only for September 1897, published in WSP 1302. Published as "at Paterson", September 1897 to September 1955.
GAGE.--Water-stage recorder with telemetry and crest-stage gage. Datum of gage is 120.00 ft above NGVD of 1929 (levels by Passaic Valley Water Commission). From Jan 8, 1933 to Sep 30, 1955, water-stage recorder at site 3.7 mi downstream at Paterson at NGVD of 1929 (levels from New Jersey Geological Survey benchmark). Prior to Jan 8, 1933, non-recording gage operated by the Society for Establishing Useful Manufacturers and data were reviewed by the USGS.
REMARKS.--Records good, except for estimated discharges, which are fair. Significant fluctuations at medium and low flow due to operation of hydroelectric plant at Beatties Dam. Flow regulated by reservoirs in Rockaway, Pequannock, Wanaque, and Ramapo River subbasins. Large diversions for municipal supply from Passaic River above Beatties Dam, and from Rockaway, Pequannock, Pompton, Ramapo, and Wanaque Rivers. In addition, the New Jersey-American Water Company (formerly Commonwealth Water Company) diverts from Canoe Brook near Summit and from Passaic River near Summit; that company, the city of East Orange, and others also divert water for municipal supply by pumping wells in the basin. Flow includes sewage effluent from several treatment plants upstream of gage.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD.--Maximum discharge, 31,700 ft³/s, based on flow-over-dam computation, Oct 10, 1903, gage height, not available. Maximum discharge at present site and datum, 20,800 ft³/s, Aug 30, 2011, gage height, 14.19 ft; Minimum discharge, 0.00 ft³/s, July 3, 1904.

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS
PERIOD OF RECORD.--Water years 1963-96, 1998 to current year.
PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD.--SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE: October 1980 to November 1986.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Water years 1963 to 1980 (once daily), September 1980 to November 1986. DISSOLVED OXYGEN: October 1970 to September 1980 (once daily). SUSPENDED-SEDIMENT DISCHARGE: August 1963 to July 1965.
REMARKS.--Discrete water-quality data were collected as part of the New Jersey Ambient Surface-Water-Quality Monitoring Network.

Peak Flood Chart

National Weather Service flood stage for this gage is 7.0 ft.

Forecasts for this gage are issued by the National Weather Service routinely year-round.
Forecast information is available here.