Cooper River Parkway (Kaighn Ave) Dam dam
Cooper River Parkway (Kaighn Ave) Dam
The Cooper River Parkway (Kaighn Ave) Dam, located in Camden, New Jersey, serves as a vital structure for flood risk reduction along the Cooper River. Completed in 1940, this earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and spans a length of 156 feet, with a storage capacity of 2900 acre-feet. Despite its historical significance, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, signaling a need for maintenance and repairs to ensure its continued effectiveness in safeguarding the surrounding communities from potential flooding events.
Managed by the City of Camden as the primary owner, the Cooper River Parkway Dam is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and undergoes regular inspections to monitor its structural integrity. With a significant hazard potential, stakeholders are urged to address the dam's maintenance needs promptly to mitigate any risks associated with its current condition. As a key component in the flood risk reduction strategy for the area, the dam plays a crucial role in protecting downstream communities and infrastructure from the impacts of high water events.
Despite its age and condition assessment, the Cooper River Parkway Dam remains a critical infrastructure asset for flood management in Camden, New Jersey. With a storage capacity of 2900 acre-feet and a drainage area of 37 square miles, the dam provides essential flood protection for the surrounding region. As efforts continue to address its maintenance needs and ensure its long-term reliability, the Cooper River Parkway (Kaighn Ave) Dam stands as a testament to the ongoing challenges and importance of water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Cooper River Parkway (Kaighn Ave) Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cooper River At Haddonfield Nj | 43 cfs | → |
| South Branch Pennsauken Creek At Cherry Hill Nj | 31 cfs | → |
| Frankford Creek At Castor Ave | 41 cfs | → |
| Schuylkill River At Philadelphia | 915 cfs | → |
| Tacony Creek At County Line | 23 cfs | → |
| Cobbs Creek At Mt. Moriah Cemetery | 31 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cooper River Parkway (Kaighn Ave) Dam.
Boat launches
- Creek Road Bellmawr
- Frankford Arsenal
- Tacony Boat Launch
- Lakeside Avenue 440, Deptford
- Linden Avenue
- Station Avenue
Campgrounds
- Tinicum Island Primitive Campsite
- Atsion - Wharton State Forest
- Willow Pond Camp Military - Ft Dix
- Lower Forge Camp
- Batona Camp
- Mullica River Campground
Fishing spots
Track Cooper River Parkway (Kaighn Ave) 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 Cooper River Parkway (Kaighn Ave) Dam
Where does the data for Cooper River Parkway (Kaighn Ave) 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 Cooper River Parkway (Kaighn Ave) Dam.