Bee Brook Detention Dam dam
Bee Brook Detention Dam
Bee Brook Detention Dam, located in Plainsboro Township, New Jersey, is a privately-owned earth dam designed for flood risk reduction along the Bee Brook river. With a dam height of 11 feet and a length of 210 feet, the structure provides storage capacity of 62 acre-feet to mitigate potential flooding in the area. The dam, completed at an unknown date, is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
Though classified as a low hazard potential structure, Bee Brook Detention Dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding community from potential flood events. The dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, and its emergency action plan (EAP) status is currently unknown. The dam's last inspection dates back to December 1991, with a recommended inspection frequency of 4 years to monitor its performance and ensure continued safety for the area. Despite its age, the dam continues to serve its primary purpose of flood risk reduction effectively.
As climate change continues to impact weather patterns and increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, structures like Bee Brook Detention Dam are essential for managing flood risks and safeguarding communities. With its modest storage capacity and low hazard potential, this privately-owned earth dam stands as a testament to proactive flood risk reduction efforts in the face of evolving climate challenges. As the dam continues to be regulated and inspected by the NJDEP, it remains a vital piece of infrastructure in the fight against flooding in Middlesex 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 Bee Brook Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware And Raritan Canal At Kingston Nj | 114 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook At Princeton Nj | 7 cfs | → |
| Delaware And Raritan Canal At Port Mercer Nj | 142 cfs | → |
| Assunpink Creek Near Clarksville Nj | 12 cfs | → |
| Pike Run At Belle Mead Nj | · | → |
| Millstone River At Blackwells Mills Nj | 110 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bee Brook Detention Dam.
Boat launches
- Middlesex County
- Roebling Park In Nj
- Morrisville
- Trenton Public Boat Ramp
- South 3rd Avenue Highland Park
- Yardley
Track Bee Brook Detention 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 Bee Brook Detention Dam
Where does the data for Bee Brook Detention 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 Bee Brook Detention Dam.