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°59'31", long 74°16'48" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, Pompton Lakes Borough, Passaic County, NJ, Hydrologic Unit 02030103, on left bank 50 ft upstream from bridge on Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike in Pompton Lakes, 400 ft downstream of Pompton Lakes Dam, and 2.0 mi upstream from mouth.
DRAINAGE AREA.--160 mi².
PERIOD OF RECORD.--Continuous-record discharge station October 1921 to current year.
REVISIONS HISTORY.--WSP 1552: 1922(M), 1924-25, 1929-31(M), 1934-35(M). WRD-NJ 1970: 1968-69. WRD-NJ 1988: 1984(M).
GAGE.--Water-stage recorder with telemetry and concrete weir. Datum of gage is 171.35 ft above NGVD of 1929. Prior to Nov 1, 2004, gage located on right bank 400 feet upstream of current location, above dam, at datum 19.61 ft higher. Prior to Oct 1, 1981, at datum 29.61 ft higher.
REMARKS.--Records good, except for estimated discharges, which are fair. Diversion at lake just upstream of gage by North Jersey District Water Supply Commission to Wanaque Reservoir since December 1953 for municipal supply. Significant regulation due to flood gate operations especially during periods of high flow. Flood gates installed in 2007 in the dam on Pompton Lake, capacity, 300,000,000 gal.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD.--Maximum discharge, 17,800 ft³/s, Aug 28, 2011, gage height, 22.61 ft; minimum discharge, 0.00 ft³/s Mar 30, 2002.

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS
PERIOD OF RECORD.--DISCRETE DATA: Water years 1923, 1962-67, 1982, 1987 to 2011. CONTINUOUS DATA: Dissolved Oxygen, April 1989 to current year. Dissolved Oxygen (Percent of Saturation), June 2000 to current year. pH, September 2005 to current year. Specific Conductance, April 1989 to current year. Water Temperature, April 1989 to current year.
REMARKS.--Prior to Nov 1, 2004, stage was measured on the right bank above dam, 400 ft upstream of current location. Nutrient and inorganic chemical data from 1987-96 was collected at the same location; data from earlier years probably was collected at the bridge, 450 ft below dam. Temporary interruptions in the daily record were due to instrument or pumping system malfunction. The dam is normally top spilling but intermittent flood gate operation, which began during calendar year 2007, releases water from the bottom. The accuracy of continuous water-quality data can be found here.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD.--Dissolved Oxygen: Maximum, 15.7 mg/L, Mar 9, 2007; minimum, 4.0 mg/L, Aug 24, 26, and 28, 2014 and on several days during August and September of 2015. Dissolved Oxygen (Percent of Saturation): Maximum, 138%, Nov 11, 2000; minimum, 48%, Aug 22, 2014. pH: Maximum, 10.4 standard units, Jul 31, 2008; minimum, 6.4 standard units, Nov 30, 2007 and Jan 16, 2010. Specific Conductance: Maximum, 1,330 microsiemens/cm, Mar 10, 2015; minimum, 74 microsiemens/cm, Aug 29, 2011. Water Temperature: Maximum, 32.1°C, Jul 18, 2013; minimum, 0.1°C, on several days during winters.

Peak Flood Chart

National Weather Service flood stage for this gage is 11.5 ft.

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

Data from the gage located upstream of the Pompton Lakes Dam (01387998) is available at this link.