Highland Lakes Dam
Highland Lakes Dam is an earth dam located in Sussex County, New Jersey, built in 1937. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Highland Lakes Dam
The primary purpose of Highland Lakes Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Highland Lakes Country Club And Community Assoc. (private). It impounds the Double Kill River.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 325 acres, has a storage capacity of 1,850 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/21/2023.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The New Jersey dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Sussex |
| River/Stream | Double Kill River |
| Coordinates | 41.17918, -74.46007 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,850 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,850 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 325 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,404 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Highland Lakes Country Club and Community Assoc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/21/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00033 |
| Federal ID | NJ00033 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |