Oswego Dam
Oswego Dam is an earth dam located in Burlington County, New Jersey, built in 1936. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Oswego Dam
The primary purpose of Oswego Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Division Of Parks And Forestry (state). It impounds the Oswego River.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 855 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 89 acres, has a storage capacity of 437 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 56 square miles. Completed in 1936, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 08/14/2024.
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Location
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Burlington |
| River/Stream | Oswego River |
| Coordinates | 39.73157, -74.48883 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 855 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 437 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 437 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 89 acres |
| Drainage Area | 56 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,731 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Division of Parks and Forestry |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/14/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00046 |
| Federal ID | NJ00046 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |