Princeton Walk Dam dam
Princeton Walk Dam
Princeton Walk Dam, located in Kingston, New Jersey, serves as a crucial structure for flood risk reduction and recreation purposes along Carters Brook. Completed in 1988, this earth dam stands at a height of 16 feet and spans a length of 400 feet, with a normal storage capacity of 15 acre-feet. The dam's significant hazard potential is mitigated by its satisfactory condition assessment, last conducted in August 2021.
Owned and regulated by the local government with oversight from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Princeton Walk Dam is subject to regular inspections to ensure its safety and functionality. With a maximum discharge capacity of 1,875 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a vital role in managing water flow in the region. Despite its primary purpose for recreation, the dam remains prepared for emergencies with an updated Emergency Action Plan to guide response efforts in case of a crisis.
Congressional District 12, represented by Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman, encompasses the area where Princeton Walk Dam is situated, highlighting the importance of this infrastructure in water resource management within Middlesex County, New Jersey. As climate change continues to impact water availability and extreme weather events, dams like Princeton Walk Dam play a critical role in safeguarding communities and natural resources against potential flooding and related risks.
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 Princeton Walk Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware And Raritan Canal At Kingston Nj | 114 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook At Princeton Nj | 7 cfs | → |
| Millstone River At Blackwells Mills Nj | 110 cfs | → |
| Pike Run At Belle Mead Nj | · | → |
| Delaware And Raritan Canal At Port Mercer Nj | 142 cfs | → |
| Assunpink Creek Near Clarksville Nj | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Princeton Walk Dam.
Boat launches
- Middlesex County
- South 3rd Avenue Highland Park
- South Main Street Bound Brook
- River Road Sayreville
- Morrisville
- Roebling Park In Nj
Track Princeton Walk 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 Princeton Walk Dam
Where does the data for Princeton Walk 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 Princeton Walk Dam.