Chester Pond Dam dam
Chester Pond Dam
Chester Pond Dam, located in Chester Township, Morris County, New Jersey, serves as a crucial structure for flood risk reduction along the Peapack Brook-TR. Built in 1993, this private earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and stretches 270 feet in length, holding a storage capacity of 28 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, Chester Pond Dam is regulated and inspected by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to ensure its satisfactory condition and compliance with state regulations.
The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, aligning with its design and construction as an earth gravity dam. With a normal storage capacity of 18 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 1088 cubic feet per second, Chester Pond Dam plays a vital role in managing water flow and mitigating flood risks in the surrounding area. Its location within a highly regulated state jurisdiction underscores the importance of maintaining its structural integrity and ongoing inspections to safeguard against potential hazards.
In summary, Chester Pond Dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate resilience efforts in New Jersey. With its strategic placement along the Peapack Brook-TR and its role in flood risk reduction, this dam serves as a key component in the state's infrastructure for protecting communities and managing water resources. As climate change continues to impact weather patterns and increase the frequency of extreme events, structures like Chester Pond Dam play a crucial role in safeguarding against flooding and ensuring the safety and well-being of residents 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 Chester Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lamington (Black) River Near Pottersville Nj | 15 cfs | → |
| North Branch Raritan River Near Far Hills Nj | 9 cfs | → |
| Sb Raritan River At Four Bridges Nj | 16 cfs | → |
| Whippany River Near Morristown Nj | 7 cfs | → |
| Passaic River Near Millington Nj | 12 cfs | → |
| Musconetcong River At Outlet Of Lake Hopatcong Nj | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chester Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Dell Avenue 9, Netcong
- Jefferson Lake Road Sussex County
- Highlands Trail Union
- South Main Street Bound Brook
- Front Street Belvidere
- West Shore Drive Stillwater Township
Track Chester Pond 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 Chester Pond Dam
Where does the data for Chester Pond 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 Chester Pond Dam.