Smithville Dam
Smithville Dam is a timber crib dam located in Burlington County, New Jersey, built in 1935. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Smithville Dam
The primary purpose of Smithville 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 Burlington (local government). It impounds the North Branch Rancocas Creek near Mt. Holly.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 60 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 37 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 244 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 132 square miles. Completed in 1935, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 06/04/2024.
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 | Burlington |
| Nearest City | Mt. Holly |
| River/Stream | North Branch Rancocas Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.98547, -74.75175 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Timber Crib |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 60 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 244 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 244 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 37 acres |
| Drainage Area | 132 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,062 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | County of Burlington |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/04/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00043 |
| Federal ID | NJ00043 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |