Verona Lake Dam
Verona Lake Dam is a masonry dam located in Essex County, New Jersey, built in 1903. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Verona Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Verona Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by County Of Essex Department Of Public Works (local government). It impounds the Peckman River near Verona.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 438 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 90 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1903, 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 03/14/2024.
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 | Essex |
| Nearest City | Verona |
| River/Stream | Peckman River |
| Coordinates | 40.82990, -74.24530 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 438 ft |
| Year Completed | 1903 (123 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 52 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,298 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | County of Essex Department of Public Works |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/14/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00386 |
| Federal ID | NJ00386 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |