River Wall Dam
River Wall Dam is a concrete dam located in Passaic County, New Jersey, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About River Wall Dam
The primary purpose of River Wall Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Newark, Department Of Water And Sewer Utilities (local government). It impounds the Pequannock River.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 2,020 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 56 square miles. Completed in 1961, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 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 11/01/2024.
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 |
| River/Stream | Pequannock River |
| Coordinates | 41.03735, -74.42730 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,020 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 56 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,600 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Newark, Department of Water and Sewer Utilities |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/01/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00547 |
| Federal ID | NJ00547 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |