Kirkwood Lake Dam dam
Kirkwood Lake Dam
Kirkwood Lake Dam, located in Camden, New Jersey, stands as a vital structure along the Cooper River, serving as a recreational asset for the local community. Built in 1931, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 13 feet and spans a length of 250 feet, with a capacity to store 92 acre-feet of water. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, offering a serene surface area of 31 acres for various activities.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Kirkwood Lake Dam has been assessed to be in fair condition with low hazard potential. The dam undergoes regular inspections, with the last assessment conducted in May 2017. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide valuable benefits to the community while ensuring safety and compliance with state regulations.
Congressional District 01's representative, Donald Norcross, oversees Kirkwood Lake Dam, reinforcing its significance in the region. With a focus on recreation and environmental conservation, the dam stands as a testament to responsible water resource management in Camden, New Jersey. Its history, design, and ongoing maintenance contribute to the overall well-being of the area, making it a noteworthy site for water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate and study.
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 Kirkwood Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cooper River At Haddonfield Nj | 8 cfs | → |
| South Branch Pennsauken Creek At Cherry Hill Nj | 3 cfs | → |
| Great Egg Harbor R Nr Sicklerville Nj | 3 cfs | → |
| Great Egg Harbor R Nr Blue Anchor Nj | 16 cfs | → |
| Little Ease Rn Nr Clayton Nj | 2 cfs | → |
| Schuylkill River At Philadelphia | 858 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kirkwood Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeside Avenue 440, Deptford
- Creek Road Bellmawr
- Frankford Arsenal
- Tacony Boat Launch
- Linden Avenue
- Station Avenue
Campgrounds
- Tinicum Island Primitive Campsite
- Atsion - Wharton State Forest
- Lower Forge Camp
- Batona Camp
- Mullica River Campground
- Indian Branch Park Campground
Fishing spots
Track Kirkwood Lake 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 Kirkwood Lake Dam
Where does the data for Kirkwood Lake 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 Low 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 Kirkwood Lake Dam.