Water Gauge Relocated Atop Ingram’s Thorofare Bridge

Posted May 23rd 2022

If the new addition to the top of the Avalon Boulevard bridge has caught your attention while crossing, here’s an explanation as to what you’re seeing:

The USGS New Jersey Water Science Center has been collecting high-quality hydrological data for the United States Geological Survey since 1903. This fall, USGS relocated Station 0141135 to the top of the bridge. The solar-powered station collects real-time tidal elevation and weather data including precipitation. It is critical in providing data and warnings regarding flooding that affects life on the Seven Mile Beach.

Formerly located on the remnants of the Avalon Swing Bridge on Old Avalon Boulevard, the gauge was moved to the top of the Ingram’s Thorofare Bridge on Avalon Boulevard at least partially to ensure that it will not get inundated during an extreme weather or tide event as it might have at its previous location.

The information gathered here is shared with the National Water Information System (NWIS). “The information is accessible through NWIS, where you can get all types of information,” said Jason Shvanda, supervisory hydrologist with the USGS. “They have a plethora of weather information and data.”

The data gathered is not used for forecasting. It is classified as temporary data, which is only available online for 120 days. The data is ancillary, yet still important to the tidal elevation data. It is used to help analyze the tide data and may help explain why data looks as it does. The classification as temporary designates only that the station is calibrated at least once a year, but other routine inspections and measures are not performed that would make the data acceptable for archival purposes for use in general scientific or interpretive studies.