March 8, 2004

Councilwoman Susan Smith
Borough of Bloomingdale
101 Paterson Hamburg Turnpike
Bloomingdale, NJ 07403

Re:  Morse Lakes Dam
       File #23-40

Dear Councilwoman Smith:

Thank you for contacting the Bureau of Dam Safety and Flood Control with your questions regarding the Morse Lakes Dam in the Borough of Bloomingdale, Passaic County.

As discussed, the Morse Lake Dam is currently classified as a low hazard dam in the State's inventory of dams. This means that should the dam fail, the only anticipated damage would be the loss of the dam itself, with no significant damage or loss of life envisioned downstream. The hazard classification of a dam, however, may be subject to change as a result of development downstream of the dam. In order to determine if a proposed development downstream of a dam would result in an increase in hazard, it would be necessary that a dam breach analysis be performed and a comparison made with the elevation and location of the structures being built as part of the development.

In the event that the structures were built and would be impacted by a dam failure, the hazard classification of the dam would then be changed to significant or high (the distinction to be made based upon water depth, velocities, structure use, etc.) As a result, under the Safe Dam Act, NJSA 58:4, it would become the dam owners responsibility to modify or rehabilitate their dam in order to comply with the more stringent requirements associated with the higher hazard dam.

Should you have further questions, please contact John Ritchey at (609) 984-0859.