Oradell Reservoir, reservoir in New Jersey on the Hackensack River
Oradell Reservoir is a large body of water on the Hackensack River in New Jersey, held back by a concrete dam built in 1923. The dam stretches over 400 feet and holds about 3.5 billion gallons, supplying roughly 100 million gallons daily to homes and businesses across Bergen and Hudson counties.
Construction began in 1901 to replace an earlier wooden structure and meet rising water demand from a growing population. The modern concrete dam was completed in 1923, transforming how the region supplied water to its residents for the following generations.
The reservoir is accessible via local roads and has a kayak launch where visitors can paddle on the water. The area is relatively flat with residential neighborhoods and open spaces nearby, making walking and nature observation easy to do.
The reservoir is connected to water from the distant Wanaque Lake, which is sometimes added to maintain consistent flow during dry periods. The dam's construction also altered the local environment by allowing saltwater to move farther inland, transforming nearby freshwater wetlands into saltwater habitats over time.
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