Reservoirs Information and Data
AUTHORIZATION
The Spruce Run and Round Valley reservoirs were constructed by the State of New Jersey as initial steps in the long-range water conservation and development program authorization by the 1958 Water supply Law and it's companion Water Bond Act to protect the availability of New Jersey's abundant natural water resources for use when required by the continued growth of the state. Under this legislation, the Department of Environmental Protection through it's Division of Water Resources, as trustee of the water resources of the state, is specifically charged with the responsibility for the development, construction and operation, on a self sustaining and self-liquidating basis, of these storage reservoir facilities for the conservation and optimum development of the surface water resources of the Raritan River Basin. Through "stockpiling" of flood waters which otherwise would rush unused to the sea, these two reservoirs develop for sale, under contractual terms to repay the cost of construction and operation, the natural surface water resources of the South Branch of the Raritan River to meet the present and near future water needs of the northeastern metropolitan area and the Raritan Valley. Delivery, treatment, and distribution facilities are to be financed, constructed and operated by the purchasers of the water. Storage is available for the release of water during periods of deficient natural runoff to more or less double the natural minimum daily stream flow available on the South Branch and Lower Raritan River for recreation, riparian and other nonconsumptive users.
The 55 billion gallon Round Valley storage reservoir, was formed by construction of two dams (125 and 175 feet high) and a dike, closing off gaps in natural horseshoe rimed shaped valley. The valley floor is shale. The earth dams and dike, faced with dumped rip-rap and sod, are of extra width with clay core "off-center" to permit future raising for possible additional storage of water. With no appreciable local drainage area (5 square miles only), Round Valley Reservoir must be filled by pumping from outside sources and no spillway is required for local flood runoff. Since Completion, the compensatory flows specified by the legislation are maintained by appropriate release lines through the dams. For the present project to develop an annual average yield of 70 mgd, at the reservoir, surplus waters are pumped from the South Branch of the Raritan River and enter the reservoir through a tunnel in the west abutment of the South Dam.
A 350 mgd pumping station at Hamden at the South Branch of the Raritan River maintains the storage in Round Valley reservoir via a 3.2 mile 9 foot diameter force main, located throughout below the hydraulic gradient to assure positive pressure in the event of temporary power failure. There can be no pumping at any time when downstream flows are below 40 mgd at Stanton, 70 mgd at Manvile, and 90 mgd at Boundbrook, or when releases are being made from either reservoir for water sale and stream flow maintenance purposes.
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