Yards Creek Upper - Main Dam
Yards Creek Upper - Main Dam is a rockfill dam located in Warren County, New Jersey, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Yards Creek Upper - Main Dam
The primary purpose of Yards Creek Upper - Main Dam is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Yards Creek Energy, Llc (private). It impounds the Yards Creek near Hainesburg.
The dam stands 70 feet tall and stretches 8,931 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 160 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 08/24/2022.
At 70 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Warren |
| Nearest City | Hainesburg |
| River/Stream | Yards Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.00150, -75.04450 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Length | 8,931 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,650 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 160 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Yards Creek Energy, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/24/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00160 |
| Federal ID | NJ00160 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |