Charlie’s Pics: Low Water Levels Offer Unique View of Allamuchy Pond

Allamuchy Pond had been losing water since August, reaching its lowest level about three weeks ago when, if you were standing atop the dam, you literally were looking at a trickle of water reaching the dam, AND I MEAN TRICKLE!! Water levels had dropped by four feet!

A good guide to keep in mind while looking at the low water level photos is that the shrubs or tall reeds you see were the water line under normal levels!! The reason or cause of this is being investigated by NJ DEP, Division of State Parks, and Allamuchy Township’s Board of Education. The good news is that the pond is filling back up. This was evident to me when I walked around the pond a little over a week ago and did notice a higher water level!! This latest storm also contributed nicely, BUT, we still have a long way to go!!

To give context to the low water levels, use the tall reeds (right) to help visualize where water levels should be. Photo by Charlie Fineran.

So, for the purpose of this article, let us view this low water level as an opportunity to possibly conjecture what Allamuchy Pond looked like before it was dammed up. Allamuchy Pond is on the old maps, so we know it was here. I am assuming that Winthrop Rutherfurd built the dam, enlarging the pond, which created a beautiful backyard view shed along with creating many recreational opportunities for their family and guests! The dam also provided a sustainable and dependable water supply.

Falling water levels exposed muddy banks, rocks, wildlife, and underwater streams! Photo by Charlie Fineran

INTERESTING FACT: Below the dam, the Rutherfurds built a pumping and generating station. Water from the pond generated electricity, which powered the first floor of Rutherfurd Hall!! Rutherfurd Hall was one of the first private residences in the United States to have electricity. Rutherfurd Hall also pumped water from the pond into the house and then pumped the water across present day CR-517 to a cement pool located near the top of the ridge, which served as its water tower, creating water pressure in the mansion. Think of this, in 1905 while most people were walking and taking buckets to get water, at Rutherfurd Hall, you were turning the faucet for water!!

View of the pond from atop the dam. Photo by Charlie Fineran

During my visit and tour during low water, I observed a lot of interesting sights. While literally walking along the pond’s bottom lands, I observed several places where springs were coming up out of the ground. Observed along the pond’s edge places were springs, again feeding into the pond. The shallow water with the pond’s level dropping offered opportunities for wildlife to dig in the freshly exposed mud for fresh water clams and mussels, too!! This is an important observation: mussels and clams are nature’s powerhouse water filters, contributing to keeping water clean.