Lake Lenape Dam dam
Lake Lenape Dam
Lake Lenape Dam, located in Mays Landing, New Jersey, is a vital structure along the Great Egg Harbor River with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1879, this earth dam stands at a height of 29 feet and stretches over 1050 feet in length, offering a surface area of 300 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy. Despite its age, the dam provides a storage capacity of 6610 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 4500 acre-feet, making it a crucial water resource for the surrounding area.
However, recent assessments have raised concerns about the dam's condition, with a poor rating and a high hazard potential identified. The last inspection in July 2020 highlighted the need for urgent maintenance and improvement measures to ensure the safety and functionality of the structure. With the dam being state-regulated and inspected regularly by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, there is a commitment to addressing these issues and implementing risk management measures to safeguard the surrounding communities and water resources.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the significance of maintaining and upgrading dams like Lake Lenape Dam becomes increasingly evident. With a growing focus on resilience and emergency preparedness, it is essential for stakeholders to work together to address the challenges posed by aging infrastructure and evolving environmental conditions. The future of Lake Lenape Dam hinges on proactive management and investment in sustainable solutions to ensure its continued service for recreation and water resource management in the region.
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 Lenape Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tuckahoe River At Head Of River Nj | 9 cfs | → |
| Great Egg Harbor River At Folsom Nj | 34 cfs | → |
| Mullica River Near Batsto Nj | 15 cfs | → |
| Great Egg Harbor R Nr Blue Anchor Nj | 16 cfs | → |
| Oswego River At Harrisville Nj | 27 cfs | → |
| Maurice River At Norma Nj | 71 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Lenape Dam.
Boat launches
- East Seaview Avenue Linwood
- Harbor Road Upper Township
- Ocean City Bike Path Somers Point
- Dorset Avenue Ventnor City
- Scotts Landing Road 1099, Galloway Township
- Bayview Drive 2604, Upper Township
Campgrounds
- Indian Branch Park Campground
- Birch Grove
- Buttonwood Hill Camp
- Frontier Campground
- Whipporwhil Campsite
- Whipporwhill Campsite
Track Lake Lenape 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 Lenape Dam
Where does the data for Lake Lenape 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 High 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 Lenape Dam.