Parker Avenue Dam dam
Parker Avenue Dam
Situated in Forked River, New Jersey, the Parker Avenue Dam is a key structure on the North Branch of Forked River, serving as a recreational hub for locals and visitors alike. Built in 1955, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 10.3 feet and spans 1100 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 125 acre-feet. The dam, owned by the local government, is regulated and inspected by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, ensuring its safety and compliance with state standards.
With a hazard potential classified as high, the Parker Avenue Dam has been assessed as satisfactory in condition as of June 2020. Its emergency action plan was last revised in April 2018, and regular inspections occur every two years to monitor its structural integrity and readiness for any potential risks. The dam's primary purpose of recreation is reflected in its surface area of 24 acres and maximum discharge capacity of 1120 cubic feet per second, providing opportunities for water sports and leisure activities for the community.
Despite its age, the Parker Avenue Dam continues to play a vital role in the local ecosystem and community, offering both recreational benefits and essential flood control measures for the area. As a significant landmark in Ocean County, New Jersey, this dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and the importance of maintaining infrastructure to meet the needs of both people and the environment in a changing climate.
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 Parker Avenue Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek At Lanoka Harbor Nj | 73 cfs | → |
| Toms River Near Toms River Nj | 88 cfs | → |
| Westecunk Creek At Stafford Forge Nj | 18 cfs | → |
| Mcdonalds Branch In Lebanon State Forest Nj | 1 cfs | → |
| North Branch Metedeconk River Near Lakewood Nj | 21 cfs | → |
| East Branch Bass River Near New Gretna Nj | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Parker Avenue Dam.
Boat launches
- Bayview Place Ocean Gate
- Garfield Avenue 230, Toms River
- West 81st Street 99, Harvey Cedars
- West 75th Street 99, Harvey Cedars
- Shore Avenue Ship Bottom
- North Shore (Blue) Trail Burlington County
Track Parker Avenue 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 Parker Avenue Dam
Where does the data for Parker Avenue 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 Parker Avenue Dam.