Lionshead Lake Dam
Lionshead Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Passaic County, New Jersey, built in 1939. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lionshead Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Lionshead Lake 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 Wayne (local government). It impounds the Haycock Brook near Wayne.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 75 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1939, 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 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 03/20/2024.
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 | Passaic |
| Nearest City | Wayne |
| River/Stream | Haycock Brook |
| Coordinates | 40.97565, -74.26013 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 75 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 75 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,530 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Township of Wayne |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/20/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00254 |
| Federal ID | NJ00254 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |