Swimming River Reservoir Dam
Swimming River Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Monmouth County, New Jersey, built in 1901. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Swimming River Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Swimming River 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 New Jersey-american Water Company (private). It impounds the Robins Swamp Brook near Red Bank.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 2,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 557 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 14,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 48 square miles. Completed in 1901, the structure is over a century 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 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 03/01/2024.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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 | Monmouth |
| Nearest City | Red Bank |
| River/Stream | Robins Swamp Brook |
| Coordinates | 40.31978, -74.11423 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1901 (125 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 14,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 14,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 557 acres |
| Drainage Area | 48 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 27,530 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | New Jersey-American Water Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/01/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00082 |
| Federal ID | NJ00082 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |