Echo Lake Dam dam
Echo Lake Dam
Echo Lake Dam, located in Howell Township, New Jersey, is a vital structure owned by the local government and regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. This earth dam, standing at a height of 8 feet and stretching 350 feet in length, serves the primary purpose of controlling the flow of Haystack Brook-TR and providing essential water storage for the area. With a normal storage capacity of 12 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 200 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in Monmouth County.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of December 2021, Echo Lake Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential. Regular inspections are conducted every two years to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. The dam has a history of meeting regulatory standards and is equipped with emergency action plans, although the last revision dates back to April 2015. Climate enthusiasts will be intrigued by the dam's role in mitigating flood risks and supporting ecosystem health in the surrounding area.
In addition to its functional importance, Echo Lake Dam offers a picturesque setting and serves as a valuable site for water resource and climate enthusiasts to observe the intersection of infrastructure and environmental stewardship. As a key component of the local water management system, this dam exemplifies the intersection of human engineering with natural resources, highlighting the ongoing importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of climate change and evolving regulatory standards.
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 Echo Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Manasquan River At Squankum Nj | 27 cfs | → |
| North Branch Metedeconk River Near Lakewood Nj | 21 cfs | → |
| Manasquan R Nr Allenwood Nj | 12 cfs | → |
| Shark River Near Neptune City Nj | 3 cfs | → |
| Jumping Brook Near Neptune City Nj | 2 cfs | → |
| Toms River Near Toms River Nj | 93 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Echo Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Stockton Avenue Manasquan
- 7th Avenue Asbury Park
- Garfield Avenue 230, Toms River
- Bayview Place Ocean Gate
- Riverview Avenue Little Silver
- River Lane 8, Long Branch
Track Echo 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 Echo Lake Dam
Where does the data for Echo 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 Echo Lake Dam.