Lake Rutherford Dam
Lake Rutherford Dam is an earth dam located in Sussex County, New Jersey. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Rutherford Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Rutherford 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 Borough Of Sussex (local government). It impounds the Clove Brook-tr near Colesville.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 110 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 64 acres, has a storage capacity of 780 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles.
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 12/28/2023.
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 | Sussex |
| Nearest City | Colesville |
| River/Stream | Clove Brook-tr |
| Coordinates | 41.28303, -74.66620 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 110 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 780 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 780 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 64 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 145 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Borough of Sussex |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/28/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00966 |
| Federal ID | NJ00966 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |