Woodcliff Lake Dam
Woodcliff Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Bergen County, New Jersey, built in 1906. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Woodcliff Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Woodcliff Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Suez Water New Jersey, Inc. (private). It impounds the Pascalk Brook near Hillsdale.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 117 acres, has a storage capacity of 2,673 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 19 square miles. Completed in 1906, the structure is over a century 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 10/24/2024.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% of dams nationwide.
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 | Bergen |
| Nearest City | Hillsdale |
| River/Stream | Pascalk Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.01278, -74.04935 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1906 (120 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,673 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,673 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 117 acres |
| Drainage Area | 19 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 13,600 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | SUEZ Water New Jersey, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00247 |
| Federal ID | NJ00247 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |