Sylvan Lake Dam dam
Sylvan Lake Dam
Sylvan Lake Dam in Burlington Township, New Jersey, stands as a vital structure regulating the Mill Stream. Completed in 1941, this earthen dam serves primarily for recreation purposes, with a storage capacity of 99 acre-feet and a surface area of 20 acres. Its significant 18-foot height and 940-foot length make it a key feature in the local landscape, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Sylvan Lake Dam has a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition following a recent inspection in October 2020. The dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) status and risk assessment measures are yet to be fully assessed, with ongoing efforts to ensure its safety and compliance with regulatory guidelines.
Located in Congressional District 03, New Jersey, Sylvan Lake Dam is a notable feature for those interested in water resource management and climate resilience. As a critical piece of infrastructure in the region, it serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams for both recreational and safety purposes, underlining the intersection of environmental stewardship and public safety in water resource management.
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 Sylvan Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Poquessing Creek At Grant Ave. At Philadelphia | 86 cfs | → |
| Pennypack Cr At Lower Rhawn St Bdg | 106 cfs | → |
| South Branch Rancocas Creek At Vincentown Nj | 13 cfs | → |
| South Branch Pennsauken Creek At Cherry Hill Nj | 31 cfs | → |
| North Branch Rancocas Creek At Pemberton Nj | 45 cfs | → |
| Pennypack Creek At Pine Road | 49 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sylvan Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Station Avenue
- Levittown Lake
- Linden Avenue
- Tacony Boat Launch
- Trenton Public Boat Ramp
- Frankford Arsenal
Campgrounds
- Willow Pond Camp Military - Ft Dix
- Range 14 Camp Military - Ft Dix
- Brendan T Byrne Camp
- Brendan Byrne State Forest
- Batona Camp
- Atsion - Wharton State Forest
Fishing spots
Track Sylvan 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 Sylvan Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sylvan 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 Sylvan Lake Dam.