Sylva Lake Dam

About Sylva Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Sylva Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by The College Of New Jersey (state). It impounds the Shabakunk Creek near Ewing.

The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 475 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1923, the structure is over a century old.

This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/11/2023.

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