FLOOD OF AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 1,1978, 

IN CROSSWICKS CREEK BASIN AND VICINITY, 

CENTRAL NEW JERSEY 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Water-Resources Investigations 80-115 

PREPARED IN COOPERATION WITH THE 

NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, 

DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES 
50272 ·iOl 

REPORT DOCUMENTATION 11. 3. Recipient's Accession No. REPORT NO. 

PAGE 

4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date 

Flood of August 31-September 1, 1978, in Crosswicks Creek December 1980 

basin and vicinity, Central New Jersey 6. 

1---------------·--- --------·-------------------,<-------- t----------------1 

7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Rept. No. 

~-A __ r_th_u_r __ A __ ._v_l_·c_k_e_r __ s __ ~------------------------------------------~--U_SQS/WRI 80-115 

9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Project/Task/Work Unit No. 

U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division 

Room 430, Federal Building 11. Contract(C) or Grant(G) No. 

P.O. Box 1238 (C) 

402 East State Street (G) 

Trenton, New Jersev 08607 12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address 13. Type of Report & Period Covered 

U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division Final Room 430, Federal Building 

P.O. Box 1238, 402 East State Street 14. 

Trenton New Jersev 08607 15. Supplementary Notes 

Prepared in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 

Division of Water Resources 

· 16. Abstract (Limit: 200 words) 

A thunderstorm during the evening of August 31 and the morning of September 1, 1978, 

caused flooding in a small area of South-central New Jersey. Maximum peaks of record 

occurred on the Upper Crosswicks Creek basin in the vicinity of Fort Dix, Wrightstown, 

and New Egypt. At New Egypt, high water crest elevations for Crosswicks Creek were 

approximately 4 feet higher than the previous maximum recorded on August 28, 1971. 

1----------------------------------------------------------------~--~ 

17. Document Analysis a. Descriptors 

Flood Data, Flood Profiles, Flood Peaks, Historic Floods, Indirect Flood Measurements, 

Flood Stages 

b. Identifiers/Open-Ended Terms 

Central New Jersey, Crosswicks Creek 

c. COSATI Field/Group 

18. Availability Statement 19. Security Class (This Report) 21. No. of Pages 

No restriction on distribution, This report ~~U_N~C=LA=S~S~I=F~I=E=D ______ ~ ____ 2_6 _______ ___ 

may be purchased from National Technical 20. Security Class (This Page) 22. Price 

UNCLASSIFIED Information Service_ Snrin~field VA 221n1 

(See ANSI-Z39.18) See Instructions on Reverse OPTIONAl FORM 272 (4-77) 

(Formerly NTIS-35) 

Department of Commerce 
FLOOD OF AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 1, 1978, IN CROSSWICKS CREEK 

BASIN AND VICINITY, CENTRAL NEw JERSEY 

By Arthur A. Vickers 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Water-Resources Investigations 80-115 

Prepared in cooperation with the 

NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, 

DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES 

December 1980 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

CECIL D. ANDRUS, Secretary 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

H. William Menard, Director 

For additional information write to: 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Rm. 430 Federal Building 

P.O. Box 1238 

Trenton, New Jersey 08607 
CONTENTS 

Page 

Hydrologic terms............................................ IV 

Factors for converting inch-pound units to metric units.... VI 

Ab s t r a c t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Introduction............................................... 2 

Acknowledgments .. o o........................................ 2 

Precipitation.............................................. 2 

De s c r i p t i o n o f f l o o d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Site description data...................................... 9 

Flood-crest elevations......................................... 17 

Flood damage............................................... 17 

s urnm a r y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . e 1 9 

References cited ....................... o o.. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 19 

Selected flood reports..................................... 20 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

Figure 1.--Location map of flood area, August 31-

Septernber 1, 1978............................. 3 

2.--Map showing stream-gaging and precipitation 

stations, August 31-September 1, 1978......... 4 

3.--Elevation of Crosswicks Creek, August 28, 1971 

and August 31-September 1, 1978........ ....... 6 

TABLES 

Table 1.--Precipitation at selected stations, August 31-

Septe·mber 1, 1978. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 5 

2.--Summary of flood stages and discharges in Central 

New Jersey, August 31-September 1, 1978. .. . .. .. 8 

3.--Flood-crest data for selected sites in Crosswicks 

Creek basin.................................. 18 

III 
EXPLANATION OF COMMONLY USED HYDROLOGIC TERMS 

Annual probability of exceedence ~ Probability that a random event 

will on the average exceed a specified magnitude annually. 

Contents - the volume of water in a reservoir or lake. Unless 

otherwise indicated, volume is computed on the basis of a 

level pool and does not include bank storage. 

Crest-stage station - a particular site where only information on 

crest stage and peak discharge are collected systematically. 

Cubic feet per second per square mile [(ft 3 /s)/mi 2 ] -the average 

number of cubic feet of water flowing per second from each 

square mile of area drained, assuming that the runoff is 

distributed uniformly in time and area. 

Cubic foot per second (ft 3 /s) - the rate of discharge representing 

a volume of 1 cubic foot passing a given point during 1 

second, and equivalent to 7.48 gallons per second or 448.8 

gallons per minute. 

Discharge - the volume of water that passes a given point within a 

given period of time. 

Drainage area - The drainage area of a stream at a specific 

location is that area, measured in a horizontal plane, which 

is enclosed by a drainage divide. Figures of drainage area 

given herein include all closed basins, or noncontributing 

areas, within the area, unless otherwise noted. 

Drainage basin - a part of the surface of the earth that is 

occupied by a drainage system, which consists of a stream or 

body of impounded surface water, together with all tributary 

streams and bodies of impounded surface water. 

Gage-height (GH) - the water-surface elevation referred to some 

arbitrary gage datum. Gage height is often used 

interchangeably with the more general term ''Stage'', although 

gage height is more appropriate, when used with a reading on 

a gage. 

Gaging station -a particular site on a stream, canal, laKe, and 

reservoir where systematic observations of gage height or 

discharge are obtained. When used in connection with a 

discharge record, the term is applied only to those gaging 

stations where a continuous record of discharge is obtained. 

Partial-record station - a particular site where only a few 

streamflow data are collected systematically over a period of 

years for use in hydrologic analyses. 

IV 
Recurrence interval (return period, exceedence interval) - the 

average time interval between actual occurrences of a 

hydrologic event of a given or greater magnitude. 

National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD) - a geodetic datum 

derived from a general adjustment of the first order level 

nets of both the United States and Canada. It was formerly 

called "Sea Level Datum of 1929," or "mean sea level" in 

reports of the U.S. Geological Survey. Although the datum 

was derived from the average sea level over a period of many 

years at 26 tide stations along the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, 

and Pacific Coasts, it does not necessarily represent local 

mean sea level at any particular place. 

v 
FACTORS FOR CONVERTING INCH-POUND UNITS TO METRIC UNITS 

For those readers who may prefer to use metric units rather 

than inch-pound units, the conversion factors for the terms used 

in this report are listed below: 

Multiply inch-pound unit To obtain metric unit 

cubic feet per second 

(ft 3 /s) 

0.02832 cubic meters per 

second (m 3 /s) 

cubic feet per second per 

square mile 

(ft 3 /s)/mi 2 

0.01093 cubic meters per 

second per square 

kilometer 

(m 3 Is) /km2 

feet (ft) 0.3048 meters (m) 

feet per second 

( ft/ s) 

0.3048 meters per second 

(m/s) 

inches (in) 25.40 millimeters (mm) 

miles (rni) 1. 60 9 kilometers (km) 

square feet (ft 2 ) 0.0929 square meters (m2 ) 

square miles 

( mi 2 ) 

2. 59 0 square kilometers 

(km2 ) 

VI 
FLOOD OF AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 1, 1978 IN CROSSWICKS 

CREEK BASIN AND VICINITY, CENTRAL NEW JERSEY 

By Arthur A. Vickers 

ABSTRACT 

A thunderstorm during the evening of August 31, 1978, 

caused flooding in a small area of Southcentral New Jersey. 

Maximum peaks of record occurred on the upper Crosswicks Creek 

basin in the vicinity of Fort Dix, Wrightstown, and New Egypt. At 

New Egypt, high water crest elevations for Crosswicks Creek were 

approximately 4 feet higher than the previous maximum recorded on 

August 28, 1971. Total damages were in excess of 2 million 

dollars, with 70 houses and 14 businesses affected. 
INTRODUCTION 

Severe flash flooding occurred over a small region of 

Monmouth, Burlington, and Ocean Counties, New Jersey, during the 

evening of August 31 and the morning of September 1, 1978. (See 

fig. 1). A small intense storm cell was stalled over this area on 

the evening of August 31 for about 6 hours before moving eastward. E~tensive damage was reported in New Egypt, Ocean County, as 

Crosswicks Creek and Oakford Lake flooded. 

Meteorologic and hydrologic data collected during this 

storm are recorded in this report. 

This study is limited to Crosswicks Creek and adjoining 

basins, as heavy rains occurred only over the New Egypt, 

Wrightstown, and Fort Dix areas. Weather stations close to this 

region reported no rainfall or only moderate rainfall. Less than 

1.5 inches of precipitation was reported within 5-10 mi of the 

storm's center. (See fig. 2, p. 4.) 

A C KN OWLEDG!V1 ENTS 

This report was prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey in 

cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental 

Protection, Division of Water Resources. Valuable assistance was 

received from the Burlington County Times and personnel at Fort 

Dix and McGuire Air Force Base. The National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (National Weather Service) furnished 

precipitation and radarscope data. 

PRECIPITATION 

The Nat ion a 1 Weather Se r v i c e ' s ( NW S ) . r ad a r s i t e s at 

Atlantic City, N.J., and Long Island, N.Y., noted a small intense 

weather cell over the New Egypt-Fort Dix area from about 4 to 10 

p.m. on August 31, 1978. Clouds reached an altitude of 35,000 ft. 

The Fort Dix Fire Tower reported rainfall in excess of 9 inches. 

McGuire Air Force Base reported 7.40 inches on August 31, with 

2.47 inches recorded between 8 and 9 p.m. The locations of these 

and other stations are shown on figure 2. One inch of rain fell 

in this area within a 20-minute period. At approximately 4:30 

p.m., 0.5-inch hailstones fell. This intense storm affected an 

area less than 35 mi 2 • Unless otherwise noted, precipitation data 

in table 1 was furnished by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, Environmental Data and Information Service. 

2 
75°' 00 

NEW JERSEY 

EXPLANATION 

rw. Approximate limit 

of ftooding 

30 MILE 1-----+---...._--1, 

48 KILOMETERS 

FIGURE 1. -- location map showing area of flooding on August 31-SGptember 1, 1978, 

in Central New Jersey. 

3 
... MILES -- ..._ ..... '""'" ... 

0 5 10 

I I I I ' I 

0 10 20 

KILOMETERS 

~,~ 

~~ 

...\.." 

~0 

<v~ -f.:::. <( 

~ EXPLANATION 

.& Continuous stream - gaging station Data from Burlington County Times ~ Weather station - precipitation only 0 

l 0 Crest Circle indicates more detailed data available - stage gage ~ Weather station - precipitation & temperature 

from National Weather Service 

6 Unpublished data National Servic,~ Indirect discharge 0 measurer:sent - Weather 

All gaging station numbers should be prefixed by 01 to comply with text nur:Jbers 

Figure 2. -- Map showing stream - gaging and precipitation stations at various locations in Central New Jersey for the flood of August 31 - September 1, 1978. 
Table 1.--Precipitation at selected stations for the flood of 

August 31-September 1, 1978 

Station Precipitation 

(inches) 

Burlington1/ Trace 

Fort Dix (Fire Tower)2/ >9 

Freehold 0.33 

Hightstown 0.26 

McGuire AFB2/ 7.40 

Moorestown - 2. 13 

Mount Holly 1 • 2 

New Egypt1/ >8 

Pemberton- 1 • 4 7 

Toms River 1. 79 

Trenton 0.37 

Windsor 0.30 

1/ Data from Burlington Times. ~/ Unpublished teletype data from the National 

Weather Service. 

DESCRIPTION OF FLOOD 

The flood crest of August 31-September 1, 1978, established 

a new maximum peak stage of record for the crest stage gage on 

Crosswicks Creek at New Egypt (Station No. 01464400). This 

maximum exceeded by over 3.9 ft the previous highest stage on 

August 28, 1971. (See fig. 3, p. 6.) At the regular daily 

streamflow station, Crosswicks Creek at Extonville (Station No. 

01464500), the previous maximum stage, also on August 28, 1971, 

was exceeded by about 0.25 ft. From the village of Crosswicks to 

the mouth of the stream, the flood of August 28, 1971, remains the 

maximum of record. 

On August 26-28, 1971, thunderstorms after tropical storm, 

Doria, caused heavy precipitation (3 to 11 inches) over all of New 

Jersey for about 32 hours. In comparison, the flood of August 28-

September 1, 1978, was caused by a small, intense thunder cell, 

approximately 10 mi in diameter, that stalled over New Egypt, 

Wrightstown, and Fort Dix for about 6 hours. Up to 9 inches of 

rain fell during that time. The magnitude of the flood of Crosswicks Creek at New Egypt on September 1, 1978, will be exceeded, 

on the average, once every 75 years based upon guidelines of the 

U.S. Water Resources Council (1977). A comparison of the flood 

profiles resulting from the storms of August 28, 1971, and 

August 31-September 1, 1978, is shown in figure 3 [high-water 

marks identified and elevations determined by U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS) personnel immediately after each flood]. 

5 
0 

C\1 CIO 

,... )( 

\\ 

~--- USGS GAGING STATION 01464400 (NEW EGYPT) O'.l 

co 1.0 

1:--

0'\ \ ' \ .... 

\ <ll 

J( ~ .0 

' 

,, ~ 

- COUNTY ROAD 53 7 (UPSTREAM) 0 

' ~ E 

... <ll \ s.... ··,, \ J5 0. 

s 1.0 <ll 

X'----- 0 C/) ARNEYSTOWN ROAD (UPSTREAM) (J) 

~~ ~ .J-) 

'·,' 

1:-- 0. (I) ' 0'\ (J) 

Cl( 0 

~' z 0 :r: fl) 

0 ::l 

H oo"' ~ 1- Ol 

E---1 (\J (Y) ::l :::::> 

1.0 0 < 

..J..) 0> 

' ~ 

j t5 ::E l'l.l "0 

::l ::l c: 

~ ~ bO :E ctl 

c:x: ~ 0 0 t..t.J 0> a: ,... 4-1 LL. 

W ALNFORD ROAD (UPSTREAM)-- 4-1 

0 0 O'.l 

:E 

"0 "0 1.0 <C 

0 0 a) w 0 0 a: a) 

r-1 r-1 C\1 

Lt.. 1- Lt.. 0 C/) 

I a) a. fl) 

• 

I :::::l ::l 

+ Ol 

1- :::1 U") w <C 

ELLISBURG ROAD (UPSTREAM) - t-- w 

LL. 

0 LL. 

Q 0 ~ I'- ..ll: 

<ll USGS GAGING STATION 01464500 (EXTONVILLE) -- ~ C/) 

<ll Cl :\ ... z () 1.0 

co <C 

C/) fl) 

:::::l ..ll: 

0 () 

0 :r: co 3: 1- fl) 

z fl) 

0 

1.0 .... 

1.0 w () 

() 

z Ol 

c: <C 

0 1- -

0 

ctl 1.0 C/) 

Ol 

HAMIL c: TON SQUARE - CROSSWICKS ROAD - c 

\ 

'\ "0 1.0 0. -.:1' 0 

0 0 'V 

c: 

0 

e, 1.0 ctl ~ (I) GROVEVILLE ROAD (UPSTREAM) --- > 

<ll 

0 w (I) I U. S. HIGHWAY 130 (UPSTREAM) -~-· I 

(I) 

1.0 w C\1 a: 

:::::> 

(!) 

0 LL. 

C\1 

,.... 

0 0 LO 0 0 0 0 0 1.0 CD LO 1.0 'V (I) C\1 

ELEVATION, IN FEET, NATIONAL GEODETIC VERTICAL DATUM OF 1929 

6 
Blacks, Crafts, and Assiscunk Creeks also flooded to some 

extent after this storm, but data are insufficient r comparison 

with evious floods in these areas. 

om ust 3 to September 1, 1978, new peaks of record 

were recorded on Newton Creek a.t Collingswood (Station No. 

01467305) and South Branch Newton Creek at Haddon Heights (Station 

No. 01467317). Both peaks were the highest since·the beginning of r~cord. However these peaks were probably the result of a storm 

other than the one that caused the Crosswicks Creek flood, as 

numerous small thunder cells were noted over Central New Jersey 

during August 28 to September 2, 1978. 

Table 2 summarizes hydrologic data for the Crosswicks Creek 

flood and similar information for other floods in the region. 

7 
()) 

Table 2.--0ummary of flood stages and discharges in Central New Jersey for the flood of August 31-September 1, 1978 

Maximun flood previously known l"1aximum during present flood 

Annual 

Drainage Period Gage Discharge Gage Discharge probability 

Station area of height height of 

No. Stream and place of determination (mi 2 ) record Date (ft) (ft 3 /s) (ft 3 /mi 2 ) Date (ft) (ft 3 /s) (ft 3 /mi 2 ) exceedance 

01408000 Manasquan River at Squankum 43.4 1931-'78 9/21/38 12.45 2, 940 67.'7 Sept. 3.91 322 7.41 0.99+ 

01408120 NB MetedeconK R nr LaKewood 34.9 1972-'(8 11/08/T{ 9.28 1,370 39.3 Sept. 5.53 176 5.00 0.99+ 

01408500 Tans River near Tans River 124 1928-78 9/23/38 12.50 2,000 16. 1 Sept. 9.76 1' 200 9.67 0. 15 

01464000 AssunpinK CreeK at Trenton 89.4 1938-78 7/21/75 14.61 5,450 61.0 Sept. 1 3.99 301 3. 36 0.99+ 

014643'75 North Run near CooKstown 4.66 1978 Aug. 31 1,860 399 a/ 

01464400 Crosswicks Creek at New Egypt 3'7. 5 1968-'78 'd/28171 26.3 1,940 51.2 Sept. 1 30.27 4,500 120 0.01 

01464405 Crosswicks Trib No. 2 at New Egypt 1.02 1978 Aug. 31 340 333 a/ 

01464500 Crosswicks Creek at Extonville 83.6 1940-'78 8/28171 13.93 4,640 55.5 Sept. 1 14.22 4,860 58.1 0.04 

01464505 Crosswicks Creek at Groveville <;14.5 1968-'78 8/28171 16.21 Sept. 1 14.88 b/ 

01464520 Doctors Creek at Groveville 25.3 1968-78 1/26/78 9.33 2,080 82.2 Sept. 1 5. 59 125 4.94 0.99+ 

01464530 BlacKs Creek at Mansfield Square 19.7 1978 Aug. 31 11.2 2,500 127 a/ 

01464538 Crafts Creek at Columbus 5.38 1978 Aug. 31 9.12 328 30.9 -a; 

01464582 Assiscunk Creek near Columbus 1. 09 1978 Aug. 31 11. 1 1, 420 H1 a! 

01465850 SB Rancocas CreeK at Vincentown 53-3 1962-'78 8128/18 ·r. 98 1, 320 24.8 Sept. 1 5.65 455 8.54 0.95 

01465882 SW Branch Rancocas Ck at Medford 4'7. 9 19'75-78 9/25/'75 '7.21 4,600 96.0 Sept. 1 6.69 3,500 73.1 a/ 

01466000 Middle Branch Mt Misery Brook 2.52 1952-78 5/29/68 2.52 '50 18.3 Sept. 1 1. 35 1.0 37 0.99+ 

01466500 f'bDonalds Br in Lebanon St Forest 2.31 1953-'78 8/25/58 2.33 35 15.2 Sept. 1 1. 39 3.6 87 0.99+ 

0146'7000 NB Rancocas Creek at Pemberton 111 1921-78 8/31/39 4.23 1, 15.6 Sept. 1 2.42 712 6.41 0.60 

01467019 l"lill Creek near Willingboro 4.12 19'76-78 1/26178 9.20 107 Aug. 31 9.46 492 119 a/ 

0146'7081 SB Pennsauken Ck at Cherry Hill 9. 16 1967-78 8/28178 10. 19 868 94.8 Aug. 31 5.82 236 25.8 0.99+ 

01467130 Cooper River at Kirkwood 12.8 1964-78 8/10/67 2. 390 30.5 

0146'7150 Cooper River at Haddonfield 17.4 1963-78 8/28171 5. 3,300 190 

Aug. 31 1. 94 126 7.24 0.99+ 

0146'7160 NB Cooper River near Marlton 5.33 1964-78 1/14/68 4.47 320 60.0 Sept. 1 4.30 330 61.9 0.04 

0 146'7305 Newton Creek at Collingswood c/ 1. 32 1%4~8 8/28171 5.18 245 186 Sept. 1 6.40 307 233 0.04 

0146'1317 SB Newton CreeK at Haddon Heights c:;_/ 0.63 1964-78 8/28/71 4.18 150 238 Sept. 1 4.62 295 468 0.03 

a/ Insufficient data for determination 

b/ Discharge not determined c/ Peaks caused by other storm cells 
SITE DESCRIPTION DATA 

Descriptive data for the sites listed in table 2 are 

given in the following section. 

01408000 MANASQUAN RIVER AT SQUANKUM, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 40°09'47", long 74°09'21", Monmouth County, 

Hydrologic Unit 2040301, on right bank 20ft downstream 

of bridge on State Highway 547 (Squankum P~rk Road) in 

Squankum, and 0.4 mi downstream from Marsh Bog Brook. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--43.4 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--July 1931 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Water-stage recorder and concrete 

control. Datum of gage is 18.82 ft National Geodetic 

Vertical Da turn of 1 9 2 9. Prior to August 1 3, 1 9 4 0, 

water-stage recorder at site 80 ft upstream at same 

datum. 

01408120 NORTH BRANCH METEDECONK RIVER NEAR LAKEWOOD, NJ 

L 0 CAT I 0 N . - -La t 4 0 o 0 5 ' 3 0" , 1 on g 7 4 o 0 9 ' 1 0" , Oc e an Co u n t y , 

Hydrologic Unit 02040301, on upstream right bank at 

b r i d g e on S t ate Ro u t e 54 9 , 1 . 0 m i u p s t r e am from 

confluence with South Branch Metedeconk River, and 2.3 mi 

east of Lakewood. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--34.9 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1972 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 

3.89 ft National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. 

01408500 TOMS RIVER AT TOMS RIVER, NJ 

L OC AT I 0 N . --La t 3 9 o 59 ' 1 0" , long 7 4 o 1 3 ' 2 9" , Ocean County , Hydrologic Unit 02040301, on left bank 1.9 mi downstream 

from Union Branch, and 2.6 mi northwest of Toms River. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--124 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1928 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 

8e 10 ft National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. 

9 
01464000 CROSSWICKS CREEK AT NEW EGY , NJ 

L OC AT I 0 N . --La t 4 0 o 0 4 ' 0 3" , long 7 4 o 3 1 ' 57 n , Ocean County , Hydrologic Unit 02040201, at upstream side of bridge on 

State Route 528 in New Egypt, 300ft downstream from 

Oakford Lake Dam. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--37 5 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1967 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Crest-stage partial record station 

only. Datum of gage is 43.46 ft National odetic 

Vertical Datum of 1929. 

01464375 NORTH RUN NEAR COOKSTOWN, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 74°35'21", long 40°02'21", Burlington County, 

Hydrologic Unit 02040201, at culvert on McGuire Air Force 

Base Access Road opposite Main Gate and 1.5 mi southwest 

of Cookstown. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--4.66 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--Indirect discharge determination of the 

peak of August 31, 197 8, made from the flow through 

culvert under McGuire Air Force Access Road. 

01464405 CROSSWICKS TRIBUTARY NO. 2 AT NEW EGYPT, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 40°04'43", long 75°30'00", Ocean County, 

Hydrologic Unit 02040201, at culvert on Lakewood Road, 

1.0 mi upstream from confluence with Crosswicks Creek and 

0.8 mi from Route 528 and Railroad Avenue in the center 

of village of New Egypt. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--1.02 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--Indirect discharge measurement of the peak 

of August 31, 1978, made from the flow through culvert 

and road overflow. 

1 o· 
01464500 CROSSWICKS CREEK AT EXTON LLE, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 40°08'15, long 74°36'02", Mercer County, 

Hydrologic Unit 02040201, on right bank upstream from 

highway bridge at Extonville, 0.5 mi upstream of Pleasant 

Run, and 0.7 mi downstream from Mercer-Monmouth County 

Line. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--83.6 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1939 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Water-stage recorder and concrete 

control. Datum of gage is 24.94 ft National Geodetic 

Vertical Datum of 1929. 

01464505 CROSSWICKS CREEK AT GROVEVILLE, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 40°10'26", long 74°40'48", Burlington County, 

Hydrologic Unit 02040201, at U.S. Highway 130, 0.3 mi 

upstream from Doct6rs Creek, 0.5 mi northwest of 

Groveville, and 0.6 mi southwest of Yardville. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--94.5 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1967 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Crest-stage partial record station 

only. Datum of gage is -2.15 ft National Vertical Datum 

of 1929. 

01464520 DOCTORS CREEK AT GROVEVILLE, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 40°10'21", long 74°39'33", Mercer County, 

Hydrologic Unit 02040201, at bridge on GrovevilleAllentown road at Groveville, 0.7 mi southeast of 

Yardville, and 1.5 mi upstream of mouth. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--25.3 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1967 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Crest-stage partial record station 

only. Datum of gage is 14.23 ft National Geodetic 

Vertical Datum of 1929. 

1 1 
01464530 BLACKS CREEK AT MANSFIELD SQUARE, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 40°07'02", long 74°41'58", Burlington County, 

Hydrotogic Unit 02040201, at bridge on Mansfield SquareCrosswicks Road, 0.4 mi east of Mansfield Square, and 

3.4 mi above mouth. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--19.7 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--August 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Peak discharge of the flood of 

August 31, 1978 made on the basis of indirect 

determination of flow through bridge and over highway. 

Crest-stage partial record station established after the 

peak had receded. Datum of gage is 12.44 ft National 

Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. Site was utilized as a 

low-flow partial record station from October 1965 to 

September 1972. 

01464538 CRAFTS CREEK AT COLUMBUS, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 40°04'44", long 74°43'09", Burlington County, 

Hydrologic Unit 02040201, at bridge on Columbus-Mansfield 

Road, 0.4 mi north of Columbus and 0.9 mi south of 

Mansfield. 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--August 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Crest-stage partial record station 

established after the flood of August 31, 1978. Datum of 

gage is 33.71 ft National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 

1 929. 

01464582 ASSISCUNK CREEK NEAR COLUMBUS, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 40°03'20", long 74°44'36", Burlington qounty, 

Hydrologic Unit 02040201, at bridge on Petticoat Bridge 

Road, 600 ft downstream from Assiscunk Branch, and 1.7 mi 

southwest of Columbus. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--10.9 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--August 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Crest-stage partial record station 

established after the flood of August 31, 1978. 

12 
01465850 SOUTH BRANCH RANCOCAS CREEK AT VINCENTOwN, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 39°56'22", long 74°45'50", Burlington County, 

Hydrologic Unit 02040201, on left bank 150ft downstream 

from highway bridge on Lumberton-Vincentown Road, 0.8 mi 

west of Vincentown, 2.9 mi southeast of Lumberton, and 

3.1 mi upstream from Southwest Branch. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--53.3 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1961 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Water-stage recorder, October 1961 to 

September 1975. Crest-stage partial record station, 

October 1975 to September 1978@ Datum of gage is 

13. 1 T ft National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. 

01465882 SOUTHwEST BRANCH RANCOCAS CREEK AT MEDFORD, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 39°54'16", long 74°48'47", Burlington County, 

Hydrologic Unit 02040201, at bridge on State Route 70, 

0.6 mi northeast of Medford, and 4.2 mi upstream from 

mouth. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--47.9 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1975 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Crest-stage partial record station 

only. Datum of gage is 20.72 ft National Geodetic 

Vertical Datum of 1929. 

01466000 MIDDLE BRANCH MOUNT MISERY BROOK IN LEBANON 

STATE FOREST, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 39°55'00", long 74°30'30", Burlington County, Hydrologic Unit 02040202, 20 ft upstream from bridge on 

North Branch Road in Lebanon State Forest, 5.1 mi 

southeast of Browns Mills. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--2.73 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1952 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Water-stage recorder from October 1952 

to September 1965, crest-s.tage partial record station 

from October 1966 to September 1978. Datum of gage is 

99.71 ft National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. 

13 
01466500 MCDONALDS BRANCH IN LEBANON STATE FOREST, NJ 

(Hydrologic bench-mark station) 

LOCATION.--Lat 39°53'05", long 74°30'20", Burlington County, Hydrologic Unit 02040202, on right bank in Lebanon State 

Forest, 25 ft upstream from Butterworth Road Bridge, 

3.4 mi upstream from confluence with Cooper Branch, and 

1.0 mi southeast of Browns Mills. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--2.31 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1953 to September 1978. Prior to 

October 1962, published as "McDonald Branch in Lebano.n 

State Forest". 

STATION INFORMATION.--Water-stage recorder and concrete 

control. Datum of gage is 117.73 ft National Geodetic 

Vertical Datum of 1929. 

01467000 NORTH BRANCH RANCOCAS CREEK AT PEMBERTON, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 39°58'10", long 74°41'05", Burlington County, 

Hydrologic Unit 02040202, on right bank at downstream 

side of highway bridge at Pemberton, 12 mi upstream from 

confluence with South Branch. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--111 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--September 1921 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Water-stage recorder above concrete 

dams. Datum of gage is 31.19 ft National Geodetic 

Vertical Datum of 1929. Prior to June 9, 1923, 

nonrecording gage and June 9, 1923 to Aug. 9, 1951, 

water-stage recorder at site 600 ft downstream at datum 

6.54 ft lower. 

01467019 MILL CREEK NEAR wiLLINGBORO, NJ 

L 0 CAT I 0 N . - -La t 4 0 o 0 1 ' 5 3 " , 1 on g 7 4 ° 5 1 ' 1 4 " , Bur 1 in g ton Co u n t y , 

Hydrologic Unit 02040202, on left upstream wingwall of 

bridge on Springside Avenue, 2.2 mi upstream from South 

Branch Mill Creek, 0.2 mi east of Willingboro, and 4.6 mi 

upstream from mouth. 

DRAINAGE AREA . .-.~-4. 12 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1975 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 

21.65 ft National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. 

14 
01467081 SOUTH BRANCH PENNSAUKEN CREEK AT CHERRY HILL, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 39°56'30", long 75°00'05", Camden County, 

Hydrologic Unit 02040202, on left bank on downstream 

wingwall of bridge on Mill Road in Cherry Hill, 1.1 mi 

south of Maple Shade, and 3.8 mi upstream from confluence 

with North Branch. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--9.16 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1967 td September 1976, Octobe~ 

1977 to Sept ember 19'7 8. 

STATIOP INFORMATION.--Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 

8.12 ft National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. 

01467130 COOPER RIVER AT KIRKWOOD, NJ 

L 0 CAT I 0 N • - -La t 3 9 o 50 ' 1 1 " , 1 on g 7 5 o 0 0 ' 0 6" , Camden Co u n t y , 

Hydrologic Unit 02040202, at outlet of Kirkwood Lake in 

Kirkwood, 100 ft east of tracks of Pennsylvania-Reading 

Seashore Lines, and 1.0 mi north of Laurel Springs. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--5.14 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1963 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Crest-stage partial record station 

only. Datum of gage is 57.82 ft National Geodetic 

Vertical Datum of 1929. Also operated as a low-flow 

partial record site. 

01467150 COOPER RIVER AT HADDONFIELD, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 39°54'11", long 75°01'19", Camden County, Hydrologic Unit 02040202, on right bank of Wallworth Lake 

in Pennypacker Park, 200 ft upstream from bridge on State 

Highway 41 (Kings Highway) in Haddonfield, 0. 6 mi 

upstream from North Branch Cooper River, and 7.7 mi 

upstream from mouth. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--17.4 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1963 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Water-stage recorder above a cut-stone 

dam. Datum of gage is 9.29 ft National Geodetic Vertical 

Da turn of 1 9 2 9 • 

15 
01467160 NORTH BRANCH COOPER RIVER NEAR MARLTON, NJ 

LOCATION.--Lat 39°53'20", long 74°58'08", Camden County, 

Hydrologic Unit 02040202, at bridge on blacktop road to 

Springdale, 2.5 mi west of Marlton. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--5.33 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1963 to September 1978. 

STATION ' INFORMATION.--Crest-stage partial record station 

only. Datum of gage is 36.36 ft National Geodetic 

Vertical Datum of 1929. 

01467305 NEWTON CREEK AT COLLINGSWOOD, NJ 

LOCATION. --Lat 39 °54 '30", long 75 °03 '13", Camden County, 

Hydrologic Unit 02040202, at bridge on Park Avenue in 

Collingswood, 0.3 mi east of Cuthbert Avenue. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--1.32 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1963 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.~=Crest-stage partial record station 

only. Datum of gage is 18.74 ft National Geodetic 

Vertical Datum of 1929. 

01467313 SOUTH BRANCH NEWTON CREEK AT HADDON HEIGHTS, NJ 

L 0 CAT I 0 N . - -La t 3 9 o 52 ' 4 5" , 1 on g 7 5 o 0 4 ' 2 6" , Camden Co u n t y , 

Hydrologic Unit 02040202, at bridge in Haddon Heights 

Park, and 2.6 mi south of Collingswood. 

DRAINAGE AREA.--0.63 mi 2 • 

PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1963 to September 1978. 

STATION INFORMATION.--Crest-stage gaging station only. Datum 

of gage is 23.34 ft National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 

1929. 

16 
FLOOD-CREST ELEVATIONS 

The availability of flood-profile data is essential to the 

solution of engineering and planning problems. Examples are the 

proper design of structures on flood plains and the evaluation of 

flood-prone areas for land-use regulation and flood-insurance 

rates. Water-surface profiles are affected by obstructions, 

contractions, and expansions of the channel; roughness of the bed, 

banks, and overflow areas; changes in alinement of the channel; 

and flow of tributaries. For example, an abrupt change in profile 

occurs at many bridges as upstream and downstream surface 

elevations fluctuate. A steep gradient of a stream flowing under 

a bridge indicates that, at the time of the crest, the bridge 

structure controlled the elevation of the upstream surface to some 

extent. Hydraulic characteristics of the channel downstream from 

the bridge control the water-surface elevation below the bridge. 

Accumulations of debris, channel enlargement, or fill could alter 

the amount of water flowing under the bridge and may also affect 

the areal extent of flooding upstream fr6m the bridge. 

Flood-crest data for Crosswicks Creek and tributaries of 

the August 28-September 1, 1978 flood were obtained by USGS 

employees using standard procedures (see .table 3). Flood-crest 

data gathered by the USGS at the same locations during the flood 

of August 28, 1971 are also included in this table for comparison. 

These data define the actual crest stages occurring at the time of 

the two mentioned floods. Any or all of the conditions described 

in the above paragraph may be applicable. 

FLOOD DAMAGE 

Although no human lives were lost during this flood, some 

farm animals. and family pets were drowned. Flood related injuries 

were reported, which included: heart attacks from excitement and 

exertion, sprained backs as a result of removing household goods 

from the floodway, and injuries resulting from automobile 

accidents due to hazardous conditions after the storm. Flooded 

highways and broken telephone lines delayed the administration of 

first aid and transportation of the victims to the hospital. 

Damage was extensive in New Egypt and vicinity. Losses, as 

reported by the Burlington County Times, were estimated at over 2 

million dollars, with 70 homes and 14 businesses damaged. 

The above information was gathered from people living in 

the flooded area and from the Burlington County Times (September 1 

and 2, 1978). 

17 
00

Table 3.--Flood-crest data for selected sites in Crosswicks Creek basin 

Flood of August 28, 1971 Flood of August 31, 1978 

Stream and location 

Distance 

above 

mouth 

Site 

reference 

Elevation 

NGVD 

(ft) 

Discnarge 

(ft3/s) 

Elevation 

NGVD 

(ft) 

Discharge 

(ft3/s) 

Nortn Run at Wrightstown 

Jobstown Road 

upstream 

downstream 

124.2 

123.4 

North Run at McGuire 

Air Force Base (opposite main gate) 

upstream 

downstream 

112.2 

106.3 

399 

Crosswicks Greek Trib. 2 at 

LakeWJod Avenue, New Egypt 

upstream 

downstream 

92.1 

84.7 

333 

Stony Ford Brook at Moorehouse 

Road, New Egypt 

upstream 

downstream 

80.5 

78.1 

Stony Ford Brook at Bridge 

Road, New Egypt 

upstream 

downs trearn 

74.1 

73.0 

Crosswicks Creek at 

Route 528, New Egypt 

19.6 tni 

( 117' 600 ft) 

upstream 

dm-mstream 

69.8 

69.5 

1,940 73.7 

73.7 

4,500 

Crosswicks Greek at 

Route 53'7, New Egypt 

18.3 mi 

(110,200 ft) 

upstream 

downstream 

65.4 

65.2 

68.4 

68.0 

Crosswicks Greek a~ 

Arneystown 

17.0 tni 

(103,000 ft) 

upstream 

do~<o~nstream 

60.5 

60.3 

62.1 

61.7 

Crosswicks Greek at 

l'ialnford 

14.2 mi 

(8'7,200 ft) 

upstream 

downstream 4'7. 9 

48.1 

48.0 

Crosswicks Creek at 

Ellisdale 

12.3 tni 

(73,800 ft) 

upstream 

downstream 

41.5 

40.8 

41.8 

41.6 

Crosswicks Creek at Extonville 

(uSGS gaging station) 

11.5 mi 

(68,800 ft) 

upstream 

downstream 

38.9 

38.9 

4,640 

(revised) 

39.2 

39.1 

4,860 

Crosswicks Greek at 

Iron Bridge Road 

10.5 mi 

(62,300 ft) 

upstream 

downstream 

35.9 

35.3 

36.3 

36.1 

Crosswicks Creek at 

Crosswicks 

8.9 mi 

( 4'7' 000 ft) 

upstream 

downstream 

26.0 

25.8 

26.2 

25.8 

Crosswicks Creek at New 

Jersey Turnpike 

7.4 mi 

(43,900 ft) 

upstream 

downstream 

23.6 

22.8 

Crosswicks Greek at Groveville 5.8 mi 

(33, 700 ft) 

upstream 

downstream 

18.3 

18. 1 

16.8 

16.8 

Crosswicks Creek at Rbute 130 5.1 mi 

(29,800 ft) 

upstream 

downstream 

14.1 13.2 

12.8 
SUMMARY 

Thunderstorms lasting approximately 6 hours caused flooding 

in the New Egypt-Wrightstown-Fort Dix area on August 31-

September 1, 1978. The area of precipitation was small, 

encompassing a radius of less than 5 mi, but rainfall in excess of 

9 inches was recorded near the storm's center. Several streams 

were flooded, including Crosswicks, Blacks, Crafts, and Assiscunk 

Creeks. The flooding of Crosswicks Creek in the vicinity of New 

Egypt has a probability of being exceeded on the a~erage once in 

75 years. Several other locations had floods with a probability 

of being exceeded on the average once in 20 to 30 years. See 

table 2, p. 8, for flood stages and discharges. 

REFERENCES CITED 

Bur 1 in g ton Co u n t y Times , Sept ember 1 , 2 , 1 9 7 8 . 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1978, 

C 1 i mat o 1 o g i c a 1 Da t a-New, Jersey , Vo 1 urn e 8 3 , Nos . 8 , 9 , Aug us t 

and September 1978. 

Stankowski, S. J., and Velnich, A. J., 197 4, A Summary of Peak 

Stages and Discharges for the Flood of August 1973 in New 

J e r s e y : U . S . Ge o 1 o g i c a 1 Sur v e y Op en-F i 1 e Rep or t , 1 2 p . 

U.S. Geological Survey 1978, Water Resources Data for New Jersey 

NJ-78-1, Water Year 1978, Volume 1, Atlantic Slope Basins, 

Hudson River to Cape May, 558 p. 

U.S. Geological Survey, 1978, Water Resources Data for New Jersey 

NJ-78-2, Water Year 1978, Volume 2, Delaware River Basin and 

Tributaries to Delaware Bay, 302 p. 

U • S • Water Resources Co unci 1 , 1 9 7 7 , Guide 1 in e s for Determining 

Flood Flow Frequency: Bulletin 17A of the Hydrology 

Committee, 183 p. 

19 
SELECTED FLOOD REPORTS BY THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Hollister, G. B., and Leighton, M. 0., 1903, The Passaic Flood of 

1902: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply and Irrigation 

Paper No. 88, 56 p. 

Leighton, M. 0., 1904, The Passaic Flood of 1903: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 92, 48 p. 

M u r ph y , E • C • , 1 9 0 6 , Destruct i v e F 1 o o d s in t h e U n it e d S t ate s in 

1905: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply and Irrigation 

Paper No . 16 2, 1 0 5 p • 

Grover, N. C., 1937, The Floods of March 1936: Part 2, Hudson 

River to Susquehanna River Region: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Supply Paper 799, 380 p. 

U.S. Geological Survey, 1947, Minor Floods of 1938 in the North 

Atlantic States: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 

966, 426 p. 

Paulson, C. G., 1960, Hurricane Floods of September 1938: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 867, 562 p. 

Bogart, D. B., 1960, Floods of August-October 1955 New England to 

North Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 

1420, 854 p. 

Rostvedt, J. 0., 1965, Summary of Floods in the United States 

during 1960: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 

1790-B, 147 p. 

Rostvedt, J. 0., and others, 1972, Summary of Floods in 

the United States during 1968: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Supply Paper 1970-B, 73 p. 

Stankowski, S. J., 1972, Floods of August and September 1971 in 

New Jersey: New Jersey Department of Environmental 

Protection, Division of Water Resources Special Report 37, 

350 p. 

Stankowski, S. J., and Velnich, A. J., 1974, A summary of peak 

stages and discharges for the flood of August 1973 in New 

J e r s e y : U . S . Ge o 1 o g i c a 1 Sur v e y Open-F i 1 e Report , 1 2 p . 

S t an k ow s k i , S . J . , Sc h o p p , R . D . , an d V e 1 n i c h , A . J . , 1 9 7 5 , F 1 o o d 

of July 21, 1975 in Mercer County, New Jersey: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 51-75, 52 p. 

Schopp, R. D., and Velnich, A. J., 1979, Flood of November 8-10, 

1977 in Northeastern and Central New Jersey: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 79-559, 33 p. 

20