Oswego Dam dam
Oswego Dam
Oswego Dam, located in Washington Township, New Jersey, along the Oswego River, is a state-regulated structure primarily used for irrigation purposes. This earth dam, completed in 1936, stands at a height of 13 feet and spans a length of 855 feet, with a storage capacity of 437 acre-feet. Despite its historical significance, the dam is currently rated as having poor condition and significant hazard potential, with the last inspection in November 2020 revealing the need for improvements.
The dam's condition assessment and emergency action plan have been identified as areas requiring attention, with the need for updated inundation maps and risk management measures. The dam's maintenance and safety protocols are under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), ensuring that regular inspections and enforcement measures are in place. With a maximum discharge capacity of 1731 cubic feet per second and a drainage area of 56.3 square miles, Oswego Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts to ensure its structural integrity and safety for surrounding communities.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the management of dams like Oswego Dam becomes increasingly critical for mitigating flood risks and ensuring sustainable water use. The dam's location in Burlington County, New Jersey, within the Philadelphia District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, underscores the collaborative efforts required to address the challenges posed by aging infrastructure and changing environmental conditions. By prioritizing updates to the dam's emergency action plan and risk assessment measures, stakeholders can work towards enhancing the resilience of Oswego Dam and safeguarding its vital role in water supply and recreational activities 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 Oswego Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Branch Wading River Near Jenkins Nj | 18 cfs | → |
| Oswego River At Harrisville Nj | 27 cfs | → |
| East Branch Bass River Near New Gretna Nj | 7 cfs | → |
| Westecunk Creek At Stafford Forge Nj | 19 cfs | → |
| Mullica River Near Batsto Nj | 15 cfs | → |
| Mcdonalds Branch In Lebanon State Forest Nj | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oswego Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Trail Burlington County
- North Shore (Blue) Trail Burlington County
- Scotts Landing Road 1099, Galloway Township
- Shore Avenue Ship Bottom
- West 81st Street 99, Harvey Cedars
- West 75th Street 99, Harvey Cedars
Track Oswego 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 Oswego Dam
Where does the data for Oswego 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 Oswego Dam.