Ballinger Lake Dam dam
Ballinger Lake Dam
Ballinger Lake Dam, located in Medford, New Jersey, is a privately owned earth dam that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 11 feet and stretching 950 feet in length, the dam provides a storage capacity of 21 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 6 acres. The dam is situated on the Rancocas Creek-TR, within the Baltimore District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, and falls under the regulatory oversight of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, Ballinger Lake Dam is currently in fair condition based on its last inspection in April 2020. The dam has a scheduled inspection frequency of every two years to ensure its continued safety and functionality. The emergency action plan for the dam was last revised in September 2014, and the dam's hazard potential and risk management measures are yet to be fully assessed and documented.
With its picturesque location in the heart of Medford Lakes Borough, Ballinger Lake Dam stands as a vital recreational resource for the local community. As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, ensuring the safety and stability of dams like Ballinger Lake Dam becomes increasingly crucial for protecting both lives and property in the face of potential emergencies.
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 Ballinger Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Branch Rancocas Creek At Vincentown Nj | 11 cfs | → |
| North Branch Rancocas Creek At Pemberton Nj | 42 cfs | → |
| Greenwood Branch At New Lisbon Nj | 31 cfs | → |
| South Branch Pennsauken Creek At Cherry Hill Nj | 2 cfs | → |
| Cooper River At Haddonfield Nj | 5 cfs | → |
| Great Egg Harbor R Nr Sicklerville Nj | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ballinger Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Linden Avenue
- Station Avenue
- Lakeside Avenue 440, Deptford
- Creek Road Bellmawr
- Tacony Boat Launch
- Frankford Arsenal
Campgrounds
- Atsion - Wharton State Forest
- Batona Camp
- Lower Forge Camp
- Mullica River Campground
- Willow Pond Camp Military - Ft Dix
- Brendan T Byrne Camp
Fishing spots
Track Ballinger 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 Ballinger Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ballinger 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 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 Ballinger Lake Dam.