Rockaway River facts for kids
The Rockaway River is a river in northern New Jersey, United States. It flows for about 35 miles (56 kilometers) and eventually joins the Passaic River. A river that flows into a larger river is called a tributary. The Rockaway River starts in a beautiful, wooded mountain area. As it flows, it passes through busy towns and areas that used to have many factories, located west of New York City. This river helps drain water from an area of about 130 square miles (340 square kilometers).
The Rockaway River begins in the eastern part of Sussex County. After a short distance, it enters Morris County. It starts in the Highlands region, near Green Pond Mountain and Oak Ridge. The river flows southwest, moving between mountain ridges. Near Wharton, it leaves the mountains and turns east. It winds its way through several towns, including Wharton, Dover, Rockaway, Denville, and Boonton.
In Boonton, the river flows through a narrow, rocky area called the Boonton Gorge. This gorge starts with the impressive Boonton Falls, which are 25 feet high! The gorge continues for over a mile (1.6 km), with the water dropping about 120 feet per mile. This creates exciting whitewater rapids. South of Boonton, the river is held back by a dam, forming the Boonton Reservoir. After the reservoir, the river flows south through Lake Hiawatha. It then goes through Parsippany and into Hatfield Swamp. Here, another river called the Whippany River joins it, and then the Rockaway River flows into the Passaic River.
Beaver Brook is a smaller stream that flows through a swamp and joins the Rockaway River in Denville.
In the 1800s, the Rockaway River was important for industry. It connected to the Morris Canal near Wharton. This allowed boats to transport coal and iron ore between Pennsylvania and New York City. Towns like Wharton, Dover, and Boonton were major centers for processing iron. They had many factories and mills. In the past, the river had a lot of pollution from these industries. However, new laws and the closing of many factories have helped to make the river much cleaner today.
The quiet upper part of the river is a popular spot for fishing. Many people enjoy catching smallmouth bass there. The New Jersey Fish and Game department also adds rainbow and brown trout to many parts of the river, making it a great place for anglers.
The Rockaway River has even appeared in entertainment! It was shown in the movie The Station Agent and in an episode of the TV show The Sopranos.
What Causes Flooding in the Rockaway River?
The Rockaway River can sometimes cause flooding, especially in parts of Denville, New Jersey. This includes homes and businesses near the river. In August 2011, after Hurricane Irene, the river rose about 6 feet higher than its previous record flood level. This was considered a "500-year event," meaning it was an extremely rare and severe flood. Downtown Denville and nearby neighborhoods were flooded with up to 8 feet of water in some places.
Over time, dirt and sand have built up in the river, making it shallower. Since the big flood from Hurricane Irene, there haven't been major problems with the river overflowing its banks. Local officials in Denville and the Army Corps of Engineers are discussing ways to prevent future flooding. One idea is to control the dams located upstream, as they might have contributed to the flooding in the downtown area.
What Rivers Flow Into the Rockaway River?
The Rockaway River has several smaller rivers and streams that flow into it. These are called its tributaries.
- Den Brook
- Whippany River
Images for kids
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Map of the Passaic/Hackensack watershed.
