Bostwicks Pond Dam dam
Bostwicks Pond Dam
Bostwicks Pond Dam, located in Upper Deerfield Township, New Jersey, is a significant earth dam that was completed in 1934 for recreational purposes. With a height of 13 feet and a length of 730 feet, the dam holds back the waters of the Cohansey River, creating a surface area of 40 acres and a drainage area of 8.3 square miles. The dam has a storage capacity of 52 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 2952 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Bostwicks Pond Dam is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity. The dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential, although its condition assessment is currently rated as satisfactory. Emergency action plans have been prepared and updated in accordance with guidelines, with the last revision dating back to October 2017. The dam is not owned or funded by any federal agencies.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Bostwicks Pond Dam presents an interesting case study in dam management and regulation. Its location in Cumberland County, New Jersey, along with its association with the Cohansey River, adds to its ecological significance. With its historical construction in the 1930s and ongoing maintenance to meet safety standards, the dam serves as a key recreational asset while also fulfilling its role in flood control and water supply management for the surrounding area.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Bostwicks Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cohansey River At Seeley Nj | 19 cfs | → |
| Salem River At Woodstown Nj | 6 cfs | → |
| Maurice River At Norma Nj | 73 cfs | → |
| Little Ease Rn Nr Clayton Nj | 2 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Creek Near Swedesboro Nj | 16 cfs | → |
| Shellpot Creek At Wilmington | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bostwicks Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Piney Point Trail Cumberland County
- Centerton Road Elmer
- East Broad Street 13, Bridgeton
- Harding Highway Pittsgrove Township
- Wma Access Road Cumberland County
- Chestnut Road 291, Cumberland County
Campgrounds
- Yogi Bear Tall Pines Campground
- Parvin State Park
- Tinicum Island Primitive Campsite
- Lums Pond Youth Camping
- Indian Branch Park Campground
- Belleplain State Forest
Fishing spots
Track Bostwicks Pond Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Bostwicks Pond Dam
Where does the data for Bostwicks Pond Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Bostwicks Pond Dam.