Mt. Kemble Lake Dam dam
Mt. Kemble Lake Dam
Mt. Kemble Lake Dam, located in Harding Township, New Jersey, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreation purposes. This earth dam, completed in 1928, has a height of 36 feet and a length of 285 feet, creating a storage capacity of 118 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 13 acres. The dam is situated along the Primrose Brook-TR and is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place.
With a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition was assessed as satisfactory during the last inspection in October 2021. The emergency action plan (EAP) for Mt. Kemble Lake Dam was last revised in April 2022, ensuring preparedness for any potential risks or incidents. The dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 500 cubic feet per second and falls under Congressional District 11, represented by Mikie Sherrill (D). Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the historical significance and engineering marvel of Mt. Kemble Lake Dam, while also recognizing the importance of its maintenance and regulatory oversight to ensure safety and environmental protection.
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 Mt. Kemble Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Passaic River Near Millington Nj | 12 cfs | → |
| Whippany River Near Morristown Nj | 7 cfs | → |
| Whippany River At Morristown Nj | 22 cfs | → |
| North Branch Raritan River Near Far Hills Nj | 9 cfs | → |
| Passaic River Near Chatham Nj | 29 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook At Watchung Nj | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mt. Kemble Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- South Main Street Bound Brook
- Dell Avenue 9, Netcong
- Jefferson Lake Road Sussex County
- Island Avenue Little Falls
- South 3rd Avenue Highland Park
- Woodbridge
Track Mt. Kemble 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 Mt. Kemble Lake Dam
Where does the data for Mt. Kemble 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 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 Mt. Kemble Lake Dam.