Rockaway River offers a greater number of available reservoir sites than
either of the other highland tributaries of the Passaic. Some of the
reservoirs which could be constructed could be used solely as catchment
areas to hold back flood waters, while the capacity of others would be
so much greater than any single flood run-off that they might serve also
as compensating reservoirs. A large dam is now in process of erection at
Old Boonton, conserving a considerable amount for the water for the
municipal supply of Jersey City. This reservoir can not be depended upon
as a flood-catchment area, as it will be the aim of those in authority
to maintain the water in it as high as possible.
_Powerville reservoir_.--A short distance above Boonton the erection of
a comparatively small dam would flood a large, irregular, flat basin
having an area of a little more than 4-1/2 square miles and extending up
the Rockaway Valley to Rockaway Village, up Beaver Brook to Beech Glen,
and north and south for considerable distances. The probable capacity of
this reservoir has been estimated, and it is fairly certain that it is
considerably more than would be sufficient for flood catchment. Its
construction would, moreover, improve the entire valley and be of
advantage to many interests.
The northern New Jersey flood commission has selected for investigation
a reservoir site on Rockaway River at Powerville. By the erection of a
dam across the stream at this point, 28 feet in height and 470 feet
long, a reservoir 4.6 square miles in area, with a capacity of
1,565,000,000 cubic feet, would be afforded. The drainage area above
this point is 114 square miles. The cost of such a reservoir is
estimated at $600,000.
North from Powerville, near the confines of the proposed Powerville
reservoir, there is an available reservoir site along Stony Brook. By
the erection of a dam 1,100 feet long and 120 feet high a lake would be
formed 645 acres in extent, which would serve as a flood-catchment basin
and a compensating reservoir. This reservoir would hold approximately
850,000,000 cubic feet. The construction of a reservoir at this place
offers no engineering difficulties, and the project may be regarded as
extremely favorable.
Dixons Pond, west of Rockaway Valley and northwest of Powerville, is a
small sheet of water which lies in a valley which might be flooded to a
greater height. By the erection of a dam 450 feet long and 30 feet high
a lake of 136 acres would be created, which would form a part of the
flood catchment and compensating service.
_Longwood Valley reservoir_.--A large storage basin is afforded in
Longwood Valley which, if developed to its full extent, would extend
from a point about a mile below Lower Longwood 7 miles up the headwaters
and reach to about 1-1/2 miles above Petersburg. An alternative
proposition is afforded which involves the submerging of less than half
this area.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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