Lake Garrison Dam dam
Lake Garrison Dam
Lake Garrison Dam, located in Porchtown, New Jersey, was completed in 1924 for the primary purpose of recreation. This private-owned dam stands at a height of 6.8 feet and has a length of 500 feet, impounding the Reed Branch of Still Run to create a surface area of 33 acres. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 89 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 152 acre-feet, serving as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, Lake Garrison Dam is currently rated as having a poor condition assessment with a significant hazard potential. The dam is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in December 2020. With its location in Elk Township and close proximity to Congressional District 02, the dam plays a crucial role in water management and flood control for the region, highlighting the importance of ongoing maintenance and safety measures to ensure its long-term sustainability and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Garrison Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Ease Rn Nr Clayton Nj | 2 cfs | → |
| Maurice River At Norma Nj | 70 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Creek Near Swedesboro Nj | 16 cfs | → |
| Salem River At Woodstown Nj | 4 cfs | → |
| Great Egg Harbor R Nr Blue Anchor Nj | 16 cfs | → |
| Great Egg Harbor R Nr Sicklerville Nj | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Garrison Dam.
Boat launches
- Harding Highway Pittsgrove Township
- Centerton Road Elmer
- Lakeside Avenue 440, Deptford
- Piney Point Trail Cumberland County
- East Broad Street 13, Bridgeton
- Creek Road Bellmawr
Campgrounds
- Parvin State Park
- Yogi Bear Tall Pines Campground
- Tinicum Island Primitive Campsite
- Indian Branch Park Campground
- Atsion - Wharton State Forest
- Mullica River Campground
Fishing spots
Track Lake Garrison 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 Garrison Dam
Where does the data for Lake Garrison 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 Garrison Dam.