Birchwood Lake, also known as Upper Birchwood, and Timber Lake, also known as Lower Birchwood Lake, are the two main lakes owned by the Birchwood Lakes Colony Club. The lakes are created by Birchwood Lake Dam and Timber Lake Dam.
Birchwood Lake
Birchwood Lake Dam separates Birchwood Lake from Timber Lake. Water discharged by the spillway flows directly into Timber Lake and passes under Jackson Road. Timber Lake Dam separates Timber Lake from Oakwood Lake. Water outflowing from the lower lake passes through Oakwood Lake and into Haynes Creek.
According to the Phase I Inspection Report, prepared by the Army Corps of Engineers (Philadelphia District) in May 1979, the area now occupied by Birchwood Lake was originally used as a mill pond in the early 1800’s. The dam for the pond was located in the vicinity of the current dam. The usage was converted to cranberry bogs in the 1880’s. The present dam was constructed to accommodate the residential development o the early 1950’s. Plans for the dam were prepared by B. Harold Wills in 1954 and the dam was constructed in 1955 by the Hill Construction Co.
During the Burlington County storms of July 2004, Birchwood Lake Dam was overtopped and breached resulting in significant erosion of the embankment on the south side of the spillway. BLCC retained McCormick Taylor Inc. in 2004 to perform hydrology, hydraulic, and dam break studies; develop rehabilitation alternatives; and prepare construction plans and specifications in accordance with the NJDEP Dam Safety Standards. Construction plans and specifications for steel sheeting along the upstream edge of Birchwood Lake Dam were completed in 2005. The project was bid and awarded to Tri-State Dredging Inc, construction began in 2006, and was completed in April of 2007.
Timber Lake
According to the Phase I Inspection Report prepared by the Army Corps of Engineers (Philadelphia District) in May 1979, Timber Lake Dam was originally used in the 1880’s to impound cranberry bogs. The dam was reconstructed in the 1930’s and failed when the lake was
filled. Following repairs, the lake was filled again resulting in a second failure. In 1954, the dam was again reconstructed. This reconstruction successfully impounded the lake and has remained essentially intact until present with the exception of a widening of the embankment in 1966 to accommodate a new sanitary sewer line. Plans for the dam and appurtenances were prepare by B. Harold Wills in 1954 and the dam was reconstructed in 1955 by the Hill Construction Co.
During the Burlington County storms of July 2004, Timber Lake Dam was overtopped and partially breached resulting in significant erosion of the downstream portion of the embankment. However, the dam did not fail and lake storage was not released. The partial breach uncovered the sanitary sewer main and a gas line. Medford Township reconstructed the embankment to reestablish and protect the utilities. NJDEP Dam Safety ordered that the lake remain drawn down until the dam was assessed and rehabilitated to meet their standards.
BLCC retained McCormick Taylor Inc. in 2004 to perform hydrology, hydraulic, and dam break studies; develop rehabilitation alternatives; and prepare construction plans and specifications in accordance with the NJDEP Dam Safety Standards. Construction plans and specification for steel sheeting along the upstream edge of Timber Lake Dam were completed in 2005. The project was bid and awarded to Tri-State Dredging Inc, construction began in 2006, and was completed in April of 2007.
For more information and definitions of common dam terms see here.