Bells Lake Dam
Bells Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Gloucester County, New Jersey, built in 1928. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Bells Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bells Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Greenwood Park Bell's Lake Comm. Club (private). It impounds the South Branch Timber Creek near Turnersville.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 31 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 343 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1928, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/29/2024.
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Location
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Gloucester |
| Nearest City | Turnersville |
| River/Stream | South Branch Timber Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.75442, -75.05945 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 343 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 343 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 125 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 31 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 700 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Greenwood Park Bell's Lake Comm. Club |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/29/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00405 |
| Federal ID | NJ00405 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |