Riverton Basin Dam dam
Riverton Basin Dam
Riverton Basin Dam, located in Sayreville, New Jersey, is a privately owned off-stream dam primarily serving the purpose of flood risk reduction in Middlesex County. Standing at a height of 11 feet and stretching 500 feet in length, this earth dam provides a storage capacity of 51 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 35 acre-feet. The dam covers a surface area of 4 acres and drains a watershed area of 0.27 square miles.
Managed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Riverton Basin Dam has a low hazard potential and has not been formally rated for its condition. Despite not having a recent condition assessment, the dam undergoes inspections every four years to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. While the dam does not currently have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, it meets state regulatory requirements for permitting, inspection, and enforcement, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining safety standards and minimizing risks associated with its operation.
As a key component of flood risk management in the region, Riverton Basin Dam plays a crucial role in protecting surrounding communities from potential flood events. With its modest storage capacity and low hazard potential, the dam serves as a reliable infrastructure asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in sustainable water management practices. Its location in a highly populated area underscores the importance of ongoing maintenance and monitoring to ensure the safety and resilience of the dam for years to come.
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 Riverton Basin Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Bk At Westons Mills Nj | 16 cfs | → |
| Deep Run At Old Bridge Nj | 3 cfs | → |
| Manalapan Brook At Spotswood Nj | 17 cfs | → |
| Rahway River At Rahway Nj | 15 cfs | → |
| Bound Bk At Middlesex Nj | 18 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook At Watchung Nj | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Riverton Basin Dam.
Track Riverton Basin 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 Riverton Basin Dam
Where does the data for Riverton Basin 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 Riverton Basin Dam.