Lake Estling Dam
Lake Estling Dam is an earth dam located in Morris County, New Jersey, built in 1870. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Estling Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Estling Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Estling Lake Corporation (private). It impounds the Den Brook near Denville.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 1,628 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 75 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,341 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1870, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/30/2023.
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 | Morris |
| Nearest City | Denville |
| River/Stream | Den Brook |
| Coordinates | 40.88332, -74.49448 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,628 ft |
| Year Completed | 1870 (156 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,341 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,341 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 358 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 75 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,700 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Estling Lake Corporation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/30/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00184 |
| Federal ID | NJ00184 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |