Lake Tappan, New Jersey & New York, USA

Also known as:  Tappan Lake, Lake Tappan Reservoir, Tappan Reservoir

Lake Tappan is one of a series of reservoirs that was created to deliver drinking water to the huge population of the New York City metro area. The lake contains about 1250 acres of water, and nearly 12 million gallons are released daily to the downstream Oradell Reservoir. It straddles the border of New Jersey and New York. The water level is controlled by United Water, a…
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    • All About Lake Tappan, NJ/NY

    Lake Locations: USA - US Mid-Atlantic Region - New Jersey - Gateway Region, NJ - New York - Hudson Valley Region, NY -

    Lake Tappan is one of a series of reservoirs that was created to deliver drinking water to the huge population of the New York City metro area. The lake contains about 1250 acres of water, and nearly 12 million gallons are released daily to the downstream Oradell Reservoir. It straddles the border of New Jersey and New York. The water level is controlled by United Water, a privately owned Utility Company who provides drinking water to over 7 million people. United Water was originally the Hackensack Water Company, and was formed in 1869.

    Lake Tappan was formed in 1966 when the Tappan Dam was built on the Hackensack River. It was one of three additional reservoirs that were created when the original, the Oradell Reservoir (created in 1921), could no longer meet the demands of the local population.

    The reservoir has caused several problems for the countryside upstream of it. Back-flooding has become a huge problem since the Tappan Dam was constructed. The effects are seen for about 100 miles – all the way to the Lake Deforest Dam.

    Because the Lake is a Category One Protected body of water, there is no boating, swimming or wading allowed in the lake. Lake Tappan is listed as Category One because it supplies drinking water to the metro area. There can be nothing allowed on the lake that can harm the environmental status of the lake.

    Recreation is allowed in the lake area, but a permit from United Water must be obtained first. The permit allows access to all of the reservoirs in the area – Oradell, Tappan, Lake DeForest and Woodcliff Lake. Lake Tappan has special wheelchair accessible docks, handicap parking and on-site services available for the comfort of those who need the services.

    Fishing is allowed from the shore ONLY. A permit is required for anyone older than 16. Permits are checked regularly. You will find several species of fish in Lake Tappan: yellow and white perch, small and largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish and carp.

    Lake Tappan is also a great place for avid ornithologists. Multiple types of birds have been spotted, including the Bald Eagle. The Tufted Titmouse, Red-tailed Hawk, Mute Swan and the Pied-Billed Grieb are among others that make their home around the reservoir.

    A couple of important notes are that the reservoir is only open to visitors from the beginning of April to the end of November. Access to the lake area will not be permitted if the terror threat level is orange or higher. No one is permitted to take pictures on United Water Property.

    The Tappan Reservoir is certainly an important part of daily life in the NYC Metro area, whether the residents there realize it or not. It is part of the gargantuan machine necessary to keep fresh drinkable water flowing through their pipes. Though it is vital to their existence, it is still a problem because the dams on the Hackensack have wreaked havoc on the natural ecosystem that has existed for centuries. Local watersheds are still trying to mend this issue, and will do so until they have a solution.

    Things to Do at Lake Tappan

    These are some activities in the Lake Tappan, NJ/NY area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Birding

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Tappan?

    Lake Tappan has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Carp
    • Catfish
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Perch
    • Sunfish
    • White Perch
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Tappan

    If you’re considering a Lake Tappan lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Lake Tappan Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Tappan lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Tappan Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: United Water

    Surface Area: 1,255 acres

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 44 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 39 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 55 feet

    Average Depth: 21 feet

    Maximum Depth: 43 feet

    Water Volume: 10,741 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1968

    Lake Area-Population: 32,000

    Drainage Area: 49 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Eutrophic

    Lake Tappan Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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