Colesville Reservoir Dam
Colesville Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Sussex County, New Jersey. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Colesville Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Colesville Reservoir 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 Papakating Creek near Wantage.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 330 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a storage capacity of 8 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles.
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 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 12/28/2023.
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Location
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Sussex |
| Nearest City | Wantage |
| River/Stream | Papakating Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.27702, -74.65458 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 330 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Borough of Sussex |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/28/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ01004 |
| Federal ID | NJ01004 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |