Lake Shenandoah Dam dam
Lake Shenandoah Dam
Lake Shenandoah Dam, located in Ocean County, New Jersey, was completed in 1934 and serves as a recreational water resource on the South Branch Metedeconk River. The earth dam stands at 17 feet high and spans 375 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 111 acre-feet and a surface area of 45 acres. Despite its fair condition assessment, the dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential, prompting regular inspections every two years to ensure its safety.
Managed by the local government of Lakewood Township, Lake Shenandoah Dam is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and operates under state jurisdiction with permitting, inspection, and enforcement protocols in place. The dam's primary purpose of providing recreation to the community is supported by a normal storage capacity of 111 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 3019 cubic feet per second. Although the dam has not undergone significant modifications in recent years, emergency action plans are periodically reviewed to meet safety guidelines.
With its picturesque location and important role in providing recreational opportunities, Lake Shenandoah Dam remains a vital water resource for residents and visitors alike. Despite its age, the dam continues to be a focal point for outdoor activities and serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring critical infrastructure to mitigate potential risks and ensure the safety of surrounding communities.
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 Lake Shenandoah Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch Metedeconk River Near Lakewood Nj | 21 cfs | → |
| Manasquan R Nr Allenwood Nj | 12 cfs | → |
| Manasquan River At Squankum Nj | 27 cfs | → |
| Toms River Near Toms River Nj | 93 cfs | → |
| Shark River Near Neptune City Nj | 3 cfs | → |
| Jumping Brook Near Neptune City Nj | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Shenandoah Dam.
Boat launches
- Stockton Avenue Manasquan
- Garfield Avenue 230, Toms River
- Bayview Place Ocean Gate
- 7th Avenue Asbury Park
- Riverview Avenue Little Silver
- River Lane 8, Long Branch
Track Lake Shenandoah 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 Lake Shenandoah Dam
Where does the data for Lake Shenandoah 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 Lake Shenandoah Dam.