Barnegat Lake Dam dam
Barnegat Lake Dam
Barnegat Lake Dam in Forked River, New Jersey, is a significant earth dam completed in 1937 primarily for recreation purposes. The dam stands at 18 feet tall and spans 850 feet, holding a storage capacity of 600 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 74 acres. Situated on the North Branch Forked River, the dam is owned and regulated by the local government, with oversight from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, the dam poses a high hazard potential due to its location and the volume of water it holds.
The dam has a history of inspections, with the most recent one conducted in June 2020, featuring a regular inspection frequency of every two years. In case of emergencies, an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is either in place or being updated, ensuring preparedness for potential risks associated with the dam. With a maximum discharge capacity of 900 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and protecting downstream areas from flooding. It is also a key site for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in understanding the impact of dams on local ecosystems and communities in 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 Barnegat Lake 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 Barnegat Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Rockford Lake Sra
- Wolf - Wildcat
- Bear Pierce Lake 2a
- Burchard Lake Wma
- Wirth Brothers
- Big Indian Recreation Area
Track Barnegat 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 Barnegat Lake Dam
Where does the data for Barnegat 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 Barnegat Lake Dam.