Gale Dam dam
Gale Dam
Gale Dam, located in North Hanover Township, New Jersey, is a local government-owned structure built in 1970 primarily for recreation purposes. The dam is an earth-type construction with a height of 15 feet and a length of 300 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 98 acre-feet. Despite its relatively low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2011 indicated poor maintenance, raising concerns about its long-term safety and functionality.
The dam is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and undergoes regular state inspections, permitting, and enforcement to ensure compliance with safety regulations. With a drainage area of 1.4 square miles and a surface area of 10 acres, Gale Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and providing recreational opportunities in the Burlington County area. The dam's location along the Crosswicks Creek-TR offers visitors a serene setting for fishing, boating, and wildlife observation.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the ecological significance of Gale Dam, there is a growing need for improved maintenance and risk management measures to safeguard its structural integrity and surrounding environment. Collaboration between local authorities, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders will be essential in addressing the dam's poor condition assessment and ensuring its long-term sustainability as a valuable resource for both recreation and water management in Burlington County, New Jersey.
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 Gale Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Crosswicks Creek At Extonville Nj | 32 cfs | → |
| Greenwood Branch At New Lisbon Nj | 36 cfs | → |
| North Branch Rancocas Creek At Pemberton Nj | 51 cfs | → |
| Mcdonalds Branch In Lebanon State Forest Nj | 1 cfs | → |
| South Branch Rancocas Creek At Vincentown Nj | 16 cfs | → |
| Assunpink Creek At Trenton Nj | 30 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gale Dam.
Track Gale 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 Gale Dam
Where does the data for Gale 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 Gale Dam.