Rainbow Dam
Rainbow Dam is an earth dam located in Ocean County, New Jersey, built in 1938. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Rainbow Dam
The primary purpose of Rainbow Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Township Of Brick (local government). It impounds the Kettle Creek.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 43 acres, has a storage capacity of 55 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1938, 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 03/02/2023.
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 | Ocean |
| River/Stream | Kettle Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.04653, -74.14515 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 43 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 223 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Township of Brick |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/02/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00092 |
| Federal ID | NJ00092 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |